UK agriculture will face Brexit set back, report finds

This report, co-authored by Antony Hook, Lib Dem MEP for South East England and Phil Bennion, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands, is based on independent sources and concludes that the current political chaos will have a real impact on UK farmers.

Key findings include:

• 42 per cent of UK farmers would have recorded losses without direct payments from the EU.

• A no-deal exit will cut the UK cut off from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and Rapid Alert System for food and feed which ensures that food health risks can be quickly notified and managed. Without any transitional agreements in place, the UK would become a third country outside of the EFSA.

• Leaving the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will mean farmers will lose vital funding. Ministers have refused to comment on how much farmers will receive under the new scheme.

• In 2016, the UK exported £304m of beef, £285m of beer, £349m of cheese, £342m of lamb and £196m of wine to the EU. British beer, cheese and wine were exported to every EU member state.

Antony Hook said: “With 71 per cent of land in the UK dedicated to agriculture, the adverse impacts of Brexit will be felt from farmers right through to consumers.

"The European Union has provided the agricultural industry with security and capital to become the thriving sector it is today. Leaving will only hamper our efforts for further growth as an international leader in production and exportation.

From 2014-2020 alone, the EU’s Rural Development Programmes have given the UK a €8.5 billion boost.

"Most affected will be our ordinary farmers, who will see their very livelihoods destroyed by radical Brexiteers, despite the stack of evidence proving that we are better off in the EU.

"We must continue the fight to stop Brexit, to ensure that the UK’s agricultural sector is supported, not scourged, going forward.”

Phil Bennion, added: “As a farmer myself, I am acutely aware of the dangers posed to the agricultural sector by the UK leaving the European Union.

"As a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, I understand the negative impact that will be felt by those not from an agricultural background as well.

"Within the EU we are offered protection through the CAP, amongst other initiatives.

"As this detailed report outlines, we stand to lose more than we gain should Brexit occur."

To read the report in full click here.