Tesco urges Government to deliver clear plan to support farming transition
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Tesco has called on the Government to deliver a clear plan to support British farming in the transition to net zero amid ongoing turmoil in the sector. In a speech at the Oxford Farming Conference on Friday, the supermarket’s chief commercial officer Ashwin Prasad said the industry needs a clear vision for sustainable agriculture, including greater investment and policy certainty.
It comes after Environment Secretary Steve Reed told the conference on Thursday that the primary purpose of farming is food production as he outlined measures to boost profits, restore nature and diversify incomes. His speech was overshadowed at the event by angry protests and repeated questions over last year’s budget measures to introduce inheritance tax on farm businesses, which has become a political flashpoint for an industry struggling with rising costs, unfair supply chains and climate change.
Tesco is now calling on the Government to better support UK farmers to drive sustainable growth through a long-term land use strategy, improved funding for all stages of innovation and setting common environmental standards. Mr Prasad said: “As the biggest customer of UK agriculture, we know providing our customers with healthy, affordable and sustainable food wouldn’t be possible without the expertise and dedication of our farmers across the country.
“But to continue to thrive in the future, the industry needs more certainty and support. “Many of the solutions we need exist today, but government and the food industry need to make sure we have the right incentives in place so that UK agriculture can reach its potential as a driver of both sustainability and economic growth.”.
