THE NATIONAL FARMERS Union (NFU) has announced it will be launching a campaign in the run up to May elections to highlight the importance of the agriculture sector in the UK.
The “Great British Food Gets My Vote” campaign will urge politicians to back British farming in their manifesto, and ask the British public to continue buying British food and supporting British farming.
Over 200 NFU members have signed up to the campaign already and will support it by displaying banners and window stickers.
The question of British food and farming was raised at the start of 2014 by Footprint, which launched it Buy British, Boost Britain campaign to drive awareness of the huge economic contributions that the UK food producer sector could make.
As part of the campaign Footprint called on the Hospitality Industry – major purchasers of fresh and ambient food products – to buy British grown fruit, vegetables and meat as well as dairy and manufactured goods.
The campaign attracted huge attention, with dozens of major companies signing up to a pledge to source 25% of food products from British businesses, boosting cash flow to small farmers, creating job opportunities and driving environmental sustainability through reduced imports, as a result of local purchasing.
The new NFU campaign carries a similar important message.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “With less than three months before the general election, British agriculture and the future of domestic food production must be recognised as a hugely important issue for Britain as politicians battle it out.
“Before the campaign has launched, we already have hundreds of our membership interested in playing an active part. Farmers on the ground are behind what we’re doing with this campaign, which shows the sheer importance of our lobbying.”
