Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, met with representatives of the NFU last week to discuss a range of different topics ranging from the price of milk to the education of children on the food process.
During the meeting there was a discussion on a number of regulations across a wide range of farming areas that the NFU feel that farmers need more support in. Gavin recently spoke in a Westminster Hall debate in support of farmers who feel that the Grocery Code Adjudicator is not properly looking at the whole supply chain when determining the cost of milk. Another topic with harsh regulations is the limited use of pesticides which makes farmers uncompetitive in a global market.
The NFU are also looking into an initiative in schools which will educate children on the journey of food from field to factory, with an emphasis on how to cook food from fresh products rather than buying processed food, an initiative that Gavin would support.
Gavin commented: “The ideas that the NFU and I discussed in the meeting are extremely important. I believe that children should understand the process of farming more and that educating them on the preparation of food from fresh products will benefit them in many areas of life. Farming continues to be an incredibly important sector for the UK and contributes significantly to our national economy and the preservation of our environment. We need to do everything that we can to support our farmers and protect our agricultural industry.”