The commissioners' backgrounds were wide and varied and I was told many times that it would be impossible for us to reach agreement. But everyone was driven by a common vision: that of a profitable and sustainable farming and food sector that produces affordable, nutritious food without damaging the environment. The consensus we reached, both in the vision and how to realise it, makes the report more powerful. Such a unified view gives us a good platform from which to take the report forward. As chair of the National Consumer Council, I will be concentrating on ensuring that the views of consumers are central to the implementation of the report. Reconnecting farmers to consumers is one of the report's key messages and must underpin future developments. The impact of food policy on the health of consumers is enormous. Last week's study by the Centre for Food Policy said that diet-related diseases cost the nation more in a year than BSE and foot and mouth disease put together. So it's good news that the report highlights the close link between farming and nutrition. One strong recommendation is that the Department of Health, the Food Standards Agency and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should unite to produce a strategy for encouraging healthy eating. I believe there are good opportunities for farmers to provide for a developed consumer market, whether it be basic good quality foods or locally produced and higher value foods, and help improve nutrition. To attain this, keeping a clear sense of the whole food chain and responding to the market ­ to consumers ­ will be vital. {{NEWS }}