Conservative Agriculture spokesman Richard Ashworth MEP today called upon the European Commission to help create a more competitive and resilient agricultural industry to address the crisis affecting farmers across Europe.
Problems facing the sector have been deeper and longer lasting than expected following the downturn in global commodity prices. Efforts by Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan to help alleviate the sharp falls in farm incomes have been welcomed but these alone will not maintain farmers’ economic viability.
Conservative MEPs have championed simplification and greater market-orientation of the Common Agricultural Policy to this end.
The UK has world-leading, innovative farmers and our food producers bring some 16,000 new products a year to the market, more than France and Germany combined. It is vital that such innovation is supported in the face of new competitors and increased price volatility.
Mr Ashworth told the European Parliament today: “What the Commission can, and must, do is find ways to help the industry become more productive, more competitive and more sustainable. Agriculture needs research and development investment, innovation and simplification. Above all, agriculture needs regulation based on common sense and proven science, not on emotion.
“The Commissioner and farmers understand this well. It is unfortunate that too many members of this house do not.”
ENDS
