MARK Jenkinson has welcomed a raft of Government measures to boost food security in Penrith and Solway, and across the UK.
The comments from the Conservative candidate for the Cumbrian constituency come as the Government is publishing the first ever UK Food Security Index.
The blueprint sets out how to grow the UK fruit and vegetable sector, and ensuring it has the labour it needs, and improving fairness in the supply chain.
The Government has also launched its second annual food security summit and introduced plans that will boost domestic food production and strengthen food security.
Mark said: “Farming is the lifeblood of our rural communities. Farmers feed the nation and are the stewards of our green and pleasant land.
“They work tirelessly every day of the year, boosting the local and national economy, and helping to stock our supermarkets shelves with top quality British produce.
“Our food and farming sectors bring over £120bn to the UK economy every year – and it is great news that the Government has set out even more support for farmers.
“It is vital that they are supported in their primary role of growing food, investing in food security, and growing resilient farming businesses to feed the nation for generations to come.
“I am pleased that the Government has recognised that we need to go even further to improve farming resilience, increase food security, and boost domestic food production.”
The plan, which builds on the Conservative Government’s strong measures of support for British farmers.
The first ever UK Food Security Index, which will allow the Government to monitor in-year shocks across the UK and support the sector grow more food.
The Government has also responded to the Shropshire Review, ensuring that the domestic farming sector has the labour it needs, and the funding to support greater automation.
This includes extending the seasonal visa route for five years and agreeing a taper for this period with industry, supporting the transition away from migrant workers with a planned £50 million package on packhouse automation funding.
The Government has also published the Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector – introducing plans to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports.
Further measures in the plan include scrapping 60 pieces of redundant Retained EU Law red tape, and unlocking the opportunities of precision breeding with £15 million invested into Genetic Improvement Networks.
The Conservative Government is also supporting farmers to get a fair price for their products, by announcing the next steps in the supply chain reviews for eggs, fresh produce, and pigs. In all three sectors the Government will introduce legislation to enhance fairness and transparency.
The Government is also providing grants of between £500 and £25,000 to farmers affected by exceptional flooding due to Storm Henk.
It is also putting in place flexibility through temporary adjustments to agreements in Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship so farmers who have been unable to carry out requirements do not miss out on income in the transition from the EU Basic Payment Scheme to SFI.
