10 January, 2012

There's no room for complacency if British farming is to meet the challenges associated with growing sustainably-produced food, claims the Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.

Reported by This Is Cornwall, Spelman told an audience at the Oxford Farming Conference the farming sector was "changing at speed" and that farmers need to concentrate on their strengths, such as exports, during this period.

The minister cites the example of Dorset Cereals, whom she believes is a shining example to farmers. The Westcountry-based cereal makers doubled its international sales within the last five years (to £5 million) after cushioning up to the export market.

Spelman explains: "This represents a fifth of the company's turnover last year. This company's award-winning products are a great example of a small company with overseas ambitions - and my challenge to you is that we need more of them."

The Environment Secretary assures farmers the government is doing everything it can to help support rural economies and communities, as well as supporting innovation and entrepreneurialship in agriculture.

According to The Telegraph, climate change can also be a useful tool for farmers in order to combat emerging economies such as Brazil and China. It could bring longer growing seasons and the opportunity to introduce new crops and livestock, cites Spelman.

Source: Vertical Leap