Comment on MP Environment food and farming Committee report on Defra's future farm policy proposals

On publication today (6 June) of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs  Select Committee Report on The future for food, farming and the environment, Sustain’s Farming Campaign Coordinator, Vicki Hird, says

MP’s on the EFRA committee have done their homework in their assessment of Defra’s proposals for future farm policy.  There is plenty to like but without the detail and an adequate budget to ensure farming can deliver public outcomes and survive post-Brexit, we agree it is hard to tell if government can adequately safeguard the future for vital small and medium-sized farms and protect the farmed environment.”

“MP’s have also noted the confusing and worrying messages on getting cheap food through global trade deals and we agree with their demand that trade deals must not undermine our farmers producing to higher environmental, food and animal welfare standards.”

We are very pleased to see the Committee recognising the extraordinary failure to consider wider food policy with public impact such as reducing diet-related diseases and we agree that future policy must support healthy food and new Government buying standards to ensure use of healthy, affordable and British food in Government procurement.”

-ends-

Sustain’s oral and written evidence to the EFRA Committee can be watched and accessed here and our response to the Defra Health and Harmony Consultation can be downloaded here.


Sustainable Farming Campaign: Pushing for the integration of sustainable farming into local, regional and national government policies.

Sustain
The Green House
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9DA

020 3559 6777
sustain@sustainweb.org

Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.

© Sustain 2025
Registered charity (no. 1018643)
Data privacy & cookies
Icons by Icons8

Sustain