UK beef sector faces ‘catastrophic decline’, body warns government
The National Beef Association (NBA) has called for ‘urgent changes’ to current UK farming policies or else the beef sector will be pushed into a ‘catastrophic decline’.
The organisation has sent a message to the Prime Minister, warning that ‘misguided’ farming policy will push the sector into ‘crisis’.
While the letter acknowledges Rishi Sunak’s commitment to agriculture, it highlights a “lack of communication and coordination” in implementing policy, and “no forward plan for the maintenance and improvement in the UK’s food security”.
As a G7 country, the UK as a whole manages to produce only 60% of its own food. However, the NBA says this trend is tracking downwards, and government action is required to prevent a “future major disaster in this vital area”.
The NBA suggests that food security issues are being overshadowed by the Climate Change Committee.
“Poorly thought-out plans” including reductions in beef suckler herds in Scotland and Wales will “leave a gaping hole” in the requirements in England which are likely to be met by increased imports from countries with welfare and environmental standards below those in the UK.
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