NFU Blasts Ministers Simplistic Climate Change Call

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 29 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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The NFU has criticised Ministers' apparent endorsement of the Lancet's report on health and climate change saying that it demonstrates poor judgement on their part. The report published today offers simplistic solutions without recognising the complex challenges the food system faces or the strategies and practical measures that the industry is developing with Defra.

NFU President Peter Kendall said the Lancet report, which has been backed by a number of Ministers, was another example of Government departments not working together. It appears the department most closely involved with food issues - Defra - has not been involved.

Mr Kendall said: "Farmers will be angry that yet again we have an ill informed and simplistic report which appears to completely misunderstand agriculture's emissions and its role in climate change. But the most unbelievable thing is that this report appears to have been put together without any input from the one Government department that deals in food policy and understands the issues - Defra.

"We know this is a complex issue and that is why Defra has been looking at it. This report advocates a 30 per cent reduction in livestock numbers in countries that have the most efficient production systems and hence the lowest emissions. It is part funded by the Department of Health and endorsed by three ministers with no thought for the unintended consequences of such a policy.

"What we need to do is look at doing things more efficiently rather than simply cutting livestock numbers. The car industry is praised for producing more efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles rather than being told to cut production. Likewise, a substantial investment in agricultural research and development is needed to enable farmers to produce food more efficiently with less impact on the environment.

"Other governments that value their livestock production are looking at exciting and innovative ways to reduce agriculture's environmental impacts while understanding the need to produce more food for an expanding global population. If the UK government wants to be seen as a leader at the climate change talks in Copenhagen they will need to work with farmers and not alienate them with soundbites."

Notes

- A series of six papers published in The Lancet explore how policies to mitigate against climate change will affect the health and lives of populations around the world.

- The series has been funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Royal College of Physicians the Economic and Social Research Council, the Department for Health, National Institute for Health Research, the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Academy of Medical Sciences, with support from WHO.

- Agricultural production is responsible for seven per cent of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions and methane emissions from the sector have fallen by 17 per cent since 1990. Agriculture accounts for around one per cent of the UK's total CO2 emissions.

Source
National Farmers Union

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