CLA lays out six principles for new British Food, Farming and Environmental Policy

Following the outcome of the EU referendum, attention has turned to working out a new British Food, Farming and Environmental Policy that could replace the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

According to FG Insight, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has set out six fundamental principles it believes should underpin the new policy, including promoting competitive farming, underpinning food security and enhancing the environment.

As a result of Brexit, the Government and farmers have a unique opportunity to establish "a new, world-leading UK Food, Farming and Environmental Policy and create better outcomes than the EU Common Agricultural Policy for our agriculture sector, the rural economy and the environment," the CLA said.

A new briefing on the six principles the CLA worked on, along with Scottish Land & Estates, has been published. Between them, they manage over 16 million acres of rural land in the UK.

The six principles are:

1. A productive and competitive farming and forestry sector: the policy must recognize UK farmers as the country's primary food suppliers while enabling them to be competitive on domestic and international markets.
2. Food security: promote innovative and sustainable ways to increase production and manage risk 
3. Enhancing the environment: be more ambitious than previous policies in meeting environmental challenges.
4. A dedicated UK budget: Government must provide sufficient funds for the policy nationwide as well as take a long term approach.
5. Value for money: the policy must be implemented in such a way that it delivers value for money and the outcomes it delivers must be to the benefit of everyone.
6. Clear, proportionate regulation: the standards that must be met should be clear and guidance should be offered for businesses to achieve compliance.