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FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Brian Richards, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart and FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters[/caption]
EU membership and food security were top of the agenda when Farmers’ Union of Wales Carmarthen members met with local MP Simon Hart at a recent executive meeting.
Following the meeting FUW Carmarthenshire county executive officer David Waters said: “We were interested to hear the MPs view on being part of the EU and how it had significant implications on Britain and how the referendum in the near future will dictate which path is chosen.
“Mr Hart told delegates that whatever choice is made, the Government would be supportive of the need to ensure a fair price is paid to farmers for production of produce.
“While it is concerns regarding immigration which have been the main driver behind the rise in anti-EU feelings, these have merely added to longstanding frustrations about the impact of EU Regulations in terms of unnecessary bureaucracy and a loss of sovereignty,” added Mr Waters.
“As often as not, the blame for many problems is misplaced, and the real culprits are UK-based administrations which have gold-plated the rules or failed to take advantage of available derogations.
“However, concerns regarding the overzealous and proscriptive nature of many rules and requirements which originate in Brussels are well founded, as are those regarding the dangers of moving towards a federalised Europe.
“Such concerns must of course be balanced against the benefits of membership of the EU, and the dangers of exiting a market upon which so many industries – not least agriculture – are currently dependant.”
The FUW shares many of the frustrations of those who believe radical change is needed in order to address the unnecessary bureaucracy and rules which emanate from Brussels, often backed up by European auditors who have little or no grasp of common sense and equality.
Mr Waters further said that the union also recognises the value of remaining a part of one of the largest common markets and trading blocks in the world, and the irreparable damage caused to farm and food businesses as a result of our exclusion from the EU market during the BSE and Foot and Mouth disease crises stand as testament to the dangers of being locked out of Europe.
Food security was also discussed by members and farmers from across Carmarthenshire heard Mr Hart tell the meeting that it was a fine balancing act between producing a high quality product and not neglecting environmental issues, whilst sustaining rural communities.
FUW Carmarthenshire county chairman Brian Richards added that: “When we talk about food security we have to make sure not to ignore our home markets. Research by the New Economics Foundation has shown that for every £1 spent on seasonal, local ingredients, a further £1.19 of economic activity can be generated.”
Each year, £2.4bn is spent by government bodies on food, and while procurement of UK agricultural produce by some authorities has improved significantly over recent years, there remain significant numbers which fail to support British agriculture, choosing instead to accept produce from countries which often fail to meet the UK’s high production standards.
Mr Richards further added that the FUW believes that future governments must proactively encourage and facilitate public and private sector procurement of UK produce in a manner that supports small, medium and large processors and cooperatives.
The union further believes that any future government must instigate procurement policies which encourage the creation of new companies and cooperatives which allow smaller businesses to tender for procurement, in order to bring benefits in terms of local employment and redressing imbalances that currently exist throughout the supply chain.