British food consumption in this country lies ‘pathetically low' at 58 per cent.
That was the message from the Liberal Democrat's representative for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim Farron, adding his party are committed to backing farmers and getting it closer to 70 per cent, if not more.
Speaking from the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in Bournemouth, Mr Farron said a food target was something he was keen to consider, but said emphasis must be 'less about a target' and instead focused on putting in measures to ensure British farming produce is accessible and celebrated in this country.
Food security
Mr Farron said: "We need to keep farmers farming. Currently the Government has no plan. Any Government that has no plan to feed their people, is a Government that is letting its people down and certainly letting its food producers down."
Gunning for the rural and farming vote, the party announced they would offer the sector an extra £1 billion pounds. Additional funding which would support farmers in their transition from BPS, incentivising them to sign up to the environmental schemes, as well as investment in infrastructure and offering tailored advice on-farms.
"In practice the Government have botched the transition. That is why farmers are making difficult decisions to either intensify or leave the industry altogether." He added very few farmers in his own constituency have chosen to sign up for SFI, but providing additional budget within those schemes, he hoped would change the direction of course.
David Exwood, vice president of NFU welcomed Mr Farron at the Liberal Democrat party leader at an organised NFU event and said the party 'see the opportunities in the rural vote' and they 'talk their language, with candidates who understand farming.'
Lib Dem conference
Mr Exwood welcomed the party's commitment to increase the agricultural budget, something they have pushed Defra to do and what other parties to 'match that commitment.
When in comes to voting policies, TB and Right to Roam are high up the agenda for the farming community. And with one possible outcome of the General Election being a coalition government with the Liberal Democrat and Labour, many farmers are keen to find out where the Liberal Democrat's stand on both policies
Mr Farron confirmed if they did get into power the cull would continue and added that animal welfare protection means ‘making sure we protect both livestock and wildlife.'
"Over the years and including our time in Government, I have always argued for an evidence science based approach and we should do whatever works in order to maximise animal welfare of all black and white animals."
"If that is culling and the evidence stacks up, then absolutely."
With Right to Roam, Mr Farron shared a more measured and restricted approach comparative to the Labour party recognising ‘farmers cannot be put under pressure or be impacted on their ability to do their job' and the policy implemented ‘must be evidence based' and must listen to farmers.
Stuart Roberts is a cereal, beef and sheep farmer in Hertfordshire. Speaking at the conference on the opening day (September 25) he emphasised the need for more investment in horticulture and the need for a separate strategy altogether.
"With the climate, the soils and the technology we have, we should be growing lots more fruit and veg. If we really got behind our fruit and veg sector, we could be a real powerhouse. It is an absolute shocker that we are importing products that we can grow from here from other parts of the world. "
"Food has been massively underplayed and we have taken it for granted for a long period of time in this country. We have seen more and more in recent times that food does not matter and it is about environment, but actually the two things are linked," Mr Roberts said.
Food security is an issue Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, Helen Morgan is acutely aware of within her own constituency and she criticised the Labour party for their complacency and lack of attention to rural voters.
She said: "We are unhappy with the direction of trade deals and standards are being bargained away and farmers are being undercut. We want to see parliamentary scrutiny of any future trade deals.
In or out or on the side line at the next General Election, Liberal Democrats said their commitment will always be to make sure farmers ‘get a better deal' and to 'listen and understand farmers needs'.
