Lib Dems unveil major new food security plan

EMBARGO: 22:30 Wednesday 3rd December 

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim Farron MP, has unveiled a major new food security plan, which includes a proposal to launch a 'farm first' scheme - a parallel to Teach First - designed to attract young people to the sector. 

Official Government statistics have shown that only 1 in 20 (5%) of farmers are aged under 35 across the UK. The party warns that the country is facing a “lost generation of farmers” if the Government does not take urgent action to encourage young people into the profession.

The party is also calling for more action to improve education about nutrition and food production to support the next generation and tackle food poverty. Across the country, 1 in 5 (18%) children are living in food poverty, with a total of 1 in 10 (11%) households existing in food poverty. The party insists that instilling an understanding of how food is produced from a young age, making better use of food grown locally and investing in agricultural training opportunities are key to future domestic food security and to tackling poverty.

The Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to fundamentally change its political approach to farming and recognise it as a vital "lifeline" for the nation's food security. An absolute top priority for the Government, the report says, must be encouraging young people into the sector through dedicated education and training programmes.

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim Farron MP, said:

“It is utterly shameful that one in five children are living in food poverty, and our farming communities are being pushed to the brink of extinction.

“Liberal Democrats are calling for a fundamental cultural shift in our attitude towards farming. Our 'Farm First' scheme would treat food security with the seriousness it deserves, finally giving young people the training and incentive they need to choose farming.

“By ignoring this impending crisis and rural brain drain, they are severing the lifeline of our domestic food supply. Britain is not secure unless its food supply is secure.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

The full paper will be launched on Thursday, 4 December.

Official Government agricultural workforce statistics can be found here.

House of Commons library research on agricultural and business property reliefs for inheritance tax can be found here.