Broad alliance calls for big changes in UK farming

Tony Blair and the new Rural Affairs Minister Margaret Beckett were lobbied by a broad alliance of farmers and environmental groups including the leader of small farmers in France, José Bové, to call for Britain's small and family farmers be given priority in any post foot and mouth review of farming.

A delegation from Friends of the Earth, The Small and Family Farmers Alliance, the International Society for Ecology and Culture and This Land is Ours handed in a joint letter to the Prime Minister and Mrs Beckett, calling for Government to:

shift economic incentives, investments in research and development and direct subsidies away from production for export toward farm-diversification (of both crops and livestock) for regional and local markets
maintain and restore local food processing capacity by ensuring that the costs of implementing and monitoring health and safety regulations are proportionate to through-puts.
cut investment in the infrastructures for global trade
reduce cross-border trade in identical agricultural products, and stop imports of food and livestock produced using systems or products illegal in Britain
support initiatives for local production for local consumption.

Pete Riley of Friends of the Earth said: "The government has signalled a new start for farming and the environment by scrapping MAFF. What is now needed are clear decisive policies which allow all farmers to produce high-quality food and a high-quality environment whilst making a profit".

Michael Hart of Small and Family Farmers Alliance said: "It is clear that farmers and environmentalists around the world must work together to counter the effects of globalisation on food, farming and the environment. Without this coming together family farming systems will be destroyed and agri-business will succeed."

Huw Pritchard, The Land is Ours said: "Ever increasing global competition is forcing small and family farmers around the world, in rich and poor countries, off the land - leaving ever larger agri-businesses struggling to compete in a world market".