Farmers, food manufacturers and the government should do more to encourage people to buy British food, environment secretary Owen Paterson has said.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference this afternoon, Paterson said: “As British farmers and food producers you know that we grow some of the best food in the world here – so why is 24% of the food eaten in the UK imported when it could be produced here?”
“We have a top-class fruit and veg sector which produces everything from green beans to strawberries, yet we imported £8bn of fruit and veg in 2012. We can’t grow mangoes or pineapples, but we can encourage UK consumers and food businesses to buy Scottish raspberries or Kent apples.
“This is a huge opportunity, and it’s up to all of us – farmers, food manufacturers and government – to take action. By buying seasonal fruit and veg we can improve the nation’s health, help the environment and boost the economy.”
Paterson said he was encouraging the public sector – which buys £2.1bn in food and drink annually – to take the lead in buying British produce. “The public sector should be taking advantage of our top-quality products, supporting our world-class farmers.”
GM crops
In other remarks, Paterson repeated his enthusiasm for GM technology, saying it represented “some of the biggest and most exciting opportunities for agriculture”.
“Let me be clear, there are other tools in the toolbox, GM is not a panacea,” he said. “[But] Europe risks becoming the Museum of World Farming as innovative companies make decisions to invest and develop new technologies in other markets.”
No comments yet