The farming and food industry has three key challenges: to compete successfully with the world’s best; care for the environment; and build public confidence in what it produces. The industry needs to achieve these aims to be sustainable, and for everyone else to see real improvements in the quality of life.
More information on the national picture
Farming plays a central role in maintaining the region’s landscape
and rural environment. Maintenance of this landscape plays a vital part in
the region’s tourism offer, helping to make an important contribution
to the region’s GDP.
In addition to those employed directly within agriculture, other sectors
such as the agricultural supply industry and food processors employ
significant numbers within the North West. The combined contribution of
agricultural and food sectors to the region’s economy is
£9.5 billion or 12% of GDP, employing some 370,000 people. More
information on the region’s food sector can be found through
following the link to Food Northwest www.foodnw.co.uk.
The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food (SSFF) first launched in
December 2002 in response to the Policy Commission Report, chaired by Sir
Donald Curry, on the Future of Farming and Food, aimed to create a
sustainable competitive and diverse English farming and food sector through
the following key areas:
• reconnection between producers and customers
• collaboration between producers and along the supply chain
• sustainable farming systems – profitable &
competitive
• deliver environmental enhancement and reduce pollution
• investing in the future.
GONW continues to lead on this work and in 2006 Will Cockbain, who is an
upland beef and sheep farmer from Cumbria, was appointed as North West
Regional Champion for Farming and Food. This is an Independent role
which is supported by an Influencing Group made up of partners from the
public private and voluntary sector. These include Food NW, the NFU, the
CLA the NWDA, RSPB Natural England and Government Office North West. The
aim of this group is to ensure that sustainable food and farming is
embedded into regional policy documents. This involves influencing policy
and decision making in organisations with an interest in food and land
management in the North West and beyond.
Following independent evaluation of SSFF in 2008, three core priorities
were adopted and the vision document Inspire –
Connecting Farming & Food in England's North West was produced.
• Food
• Uplands
• Climate Change
SSFF delivery in the North West is focused on influencing investment
programmes, such as the Rural Development Programme for England,
information on which can be found at www.nwda.co.uk/areas-of-work/building-communities/rdpe.aspx
Think Food and
Farming is the exciting legacy project building on the
successes of the Year of Food and Farming. It promotes healthy living by
offering children and young people direct experience of the countryside,
farming and food through growing and cooking activities, and visits to
farms.
Food 2030
In January 2010 Hilary Benn launched Food 2030 (Food 2030
strategy - Food 2030
summary) which sets out the Government’s new food strategy of
what they want the food system to look like in 2030.
The vision is for consumers to be informed, can choose, and afford,
healthy, sustainable food with the demand met by profitable, competitive,
highly skilled and resilient farming, fishing and food businesses,
supported by first class research and development.
