Post-Brexit agricultural policy

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has begun to consult on the future of agricultural policy post-Brexit and we are responding to the consultation on Health and Harmony - the Future for Food, Farming and the Environment. 

Our key message will be that we must see agriculture in its broader food chain context and that to deliver the sustainability objectives DEFRA has set out, a vibrant, profitable and successful food chain from farm to fork is needed.

LEPs have been asked by the Government to develop Local Industrial Strategies which identify a few priority sectors for growth in their economy.  The selected sectors should be ones in which the local economy has distinctive strengths aligned with growing markets in the UK or globally.

In Greater Lincolnshire, we are clear that the food chain is one of the most important sectors for our growth and that we already have real depth and breadth in our food chain, set in the context of continued strong global growth in the demand for food. This is also being supported by local investment in technology and innovation; for example, the University of Lincoln now has the largest team in the UK focused on automation for the food chain to address the workforce supply constraints affecting the industry.

The LEP would welcome input on what you think we need to do to support growth in the food chain as we develop the Local Industrial Strategy during 2018.