We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.NFU Cymru demands supermarket ombudsman
NFU Cymru will be looking to the new Westminster Government to deliver across-party commitments to establish a Supermarket Ombudsman - and one with some real teeth.
Launching the union’s General Election manifesto at the weekend, president Ed Bailey told Parliamentary candidates from five political parties that although agriculture was a devolved area in Wales some important issues still needed to be tacked at UK level.
“Farmers need a fair price from the marketplace for what they produce and a supermarket ombudsman with real teeth will go a long way towards addressing this,” he said.
Food labelling was another issue of major concern and in need of urgent examination.
“For far too long it has been too easy for those who wish to mislead consumers as to where their food comes from to do so,” said Mr Bailey.
“NFU Cymru wants clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling on all meat and meat products, allowing consumers to make an informed choice.
“The UK Government spends £1.8 billion on food and catering services annually.
“We would also like to see a revised public procurement strategy which places the sourcing of food produced to British farm assurance standards at its heart.”
It was also regrettable that recent decades had seen a serious decline in investment in agricultural science.
Defra, which continued to hold many of the research and development purse strings, had cut expenditure from some £82m in 2001-02 to around £63m in 2008-09.
“But the challenges of feeding a global population estimated to reach 9 billion by 2050 cannot be underestimated.
“That is why a research and development focus on increasing resource use efficiency, genetic improvement of crops and livestock, the control of pests and diseases, reducing waste and increasing bi-product use in farming systems is more vital than ever.
“In the face of volatile markets and inequitable supply chain relationships, CAP payments continue to play an important role in farm incomes, as well as the food security of 500 million EU consumers,” added Mr Bailey.
“CAP expenditure accounts for less than 0.5% of total EU GDP and this year will be important in shaping policy after 2013.
“We look to the next UK Government to defend the CAP, ensure it continues to be financed from the European budget and resists any moves to re-nationalise it.”
