NFU conference - Boosting farm profitability

Statement

Today at the NFU conference, I made several announcements to make farming more profitable:

• Extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years will give farms a pipeline of workers and certainty to grow their businesses. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance—supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.
• Backing British produce: There are now requirements for Government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products that local farms and producers are well placed to serve. The move marks a major leap in achieving the Government’s ambition for at least 50% of food supplied into the £5 billion public sector catering contracts to be from British producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.
• £110 million investment in technology: The Farming Innovation Programme which supports research and development of agri-technology for farmers, for example, the chemical-free cleaning for integrated milking equipment, which lowers energy costs and chemical use. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund provides grants of up to £25,000 to buy new equipment such as electric weeders to reduce chemical use.
• Protecting farmers in trade deals: The Government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.
• Strengthening Britain's biosecurity: Transforming the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge into a National Biosecurity Centre, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers.

As I said at the Oxford Farming Conference in January, more profitable, sustainable farm businesses will ensure our nation’s long-term food security. The Government has an important role in creating the conditions for growth and maintaining the resilient production of high-quality food the British public depends on.