Memorandum by the Royal Agricultural Society
of England
BACKGROUND INFORMATION—ROYAL
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
OF ENGLAND
The Royal Agricultural Society of England
(the Society, the RASE) is the leading independent voice for the
agricultural industry and rural England. The Society has, since
1838, played a leading role in the development of British agriculture
and a vibrant rural economy through the uptake and communication
of good science, the promotion of best practice and a co-ordinated,
impartial approach to wide-ranging rural issues. Today its work
includes: support for business through
communication, demonstration and facilitation; social welfare
in rural communities; education; and its significant events management
role, notably with the Royal Show and specialist Technical Events.
It undertakes the activities above with its partner organisations
the Arthur Rank Centre, Farming & Countryside Education (FACE),
the International Agriculture & Technology Centre (IATC) and
the Warwickshire Rural Hub, all of which are now effective, practical
delivery mechanisms in their own right.
In this Submission, the Society has sought to
take a long-term, impartial, a-political viewpoint which it believes
to be in the best interests of agriculture and the rural economy
in the UK and Europe. This is in line with the terms of its Charter
and charitable status. The Society has not, therefore, directly
answered the questions raised in the "Invitation to Submit",
but has outlined key issues arising from an exciting vision for
a much-changed agriculture over the next few years: in particular
its strong belief in the growing importance of agriculture and
the rural economy as a means of solving many of the world's pressing
problems. The Society believes that the Common Agricultural Policy
should help agriculture to change and to take advantage of the
many opportunities open to it. Such change holds the hope that
rural economies will in future be thriving and viable without
the need for EU support.
1. WHAT CAN
THE RURAL
SECTOR OFFER?
EU agriculture can:
— Feed people in developed and developing
nations.
— Fuel our homes and our industries.
— Produce the feedstock for sustainable
materials for industry, for medical purposes, for construction,
to name but a few.
— Manage a beautiful, accessible environmentally
sustainable countryside.
1.1 The RASE would argue that, in order
to meet the challenges which the world faces, agriculture should
be given the opportunity to achieve all of the above. The pace
of change will only increase, and it could be argued that recent
reform of the CAP is already out of date in its emphasis on environment.
It is becoming clear that the available land will need to be used
very wisely indeed if it is to do all that is asked of it. Only
recently, the United Nations expressed its concern about the headlong
rush to use land for the production of biofuels and the need for
the world to be able to feed its fast-growing population.
1.2 For the sake of its peoples, the EU's
reformed CAP will need to take a view on both future food and
fuel security. In the light of factors such as an increasing world
population, possible greater migration as a result of climate
change, a shortage of water and the uncertainty of fuel supplies,
the Society would argue strongly that the CAP will need to take
a robust view in order to safeguard both community food and fuel
supplies.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE
Global warming and climate change are proving
to be the defining issues of the era. For agriculture, the key
considerations are perhaps:
— The effects of climate change on
weather conditions and water availability.
— The opportunities which this may
bring, crucial amongst which is the ability of farmers to solve/mitigate
the problems associated with climate change, and their ability
to grow crops new to the EU climates.
— The fact that agriculture (particularly
livestock farming) is a significant contributor to global warming
and will need to find ways to put its house in order.
— The need for sustainable supply chains
not just in food but in a range of non-food uses.
2.1 In short, farmers will be capable of
helping to solve many of the world's most pressing problems, and
in addition will be at the forefront of a "plant-based"
revolution rather than an oil revolution.
3. SUSTAINABILITY
How developed countries deal with waste and
"end-of-life" issues is becoming increasingly important.
The development of plant-based sustainable supply chains for a
range of industries and products will contribute significantly
to the ability of that industry to recycle or safely dispose of
its waste in more efficient ways. Farming will be at the very
heart of this "plant-based" revolution and the Royal
Agricultural Society of England believes that sustainability should
be a key theme of the CAP in future. We say this not least because
we believe that the development of sustainable supply chains has
the potential to provide significant new market opportunities
for the land-based sector, with the potential to free it from
financial support in the medium term. But, if these chains are
to be successfully developed, the encouragement of engagement
between agriculture, research and development, companies in other
industries and recycling/disposal interests will be vital.
4. CHANGE MANAGEMENT
Land-based businesses will need to change further
if they are to fulfil the objectives outlined above. This requires
the following:
— The establishment of improved, accessible
and understandable links between research bodies and rural SMEs
(the Society is well-placed to do this).
— The expansion of delivery mechanisms
which can work at grassroots level to bring about change through
the provision of information, sharing of best practice, mentoring
and facilitation of new, often collaborative, enterprises.
— Improved access to training in a
form and at a time when farmers can make use of it.
5. EUROPE-WIDE
POLICIES
It has often been questioned whether the CAP
can be relevant and appropriate for farming and political circumstances
in countries which differ widely, and indeed implement the Policy
differently. It is well-known that British farmers have often
felt themselves to be at a disadvantage and they place great store
on the utopian vision of the "level playing field".
There is another aspect to this: if agriculture is to fulfil its
potential in contributing to solutions on climate change and if
new market opportunities for farmers are to be linked to sustainable
solutions, then Governments will need to work in partnership to
provide support, commitment and continuity through, for example,
fiscal policy. Already embryonic markets (eg bio-energy) in some
states are struggling because of the differing environmental incentives/tax
policy between their Governments and others, such as Sweden, with
more advantageous policies.
6. AN AGRICULTURAL
POLICY OR
A RURAL
POLICY
Whilst agriculture (in the UK at least) is not
currently such a powerful driver of the rural economy or a major
employer or contributor to GDP, its ability to contribute significantly
to environmental solutions will make it an important industry
again.
6.1 The effects of Foot & Mouth Disease
proved conclusively that, when agriculture suffers, key parts
of the rural economy such as the allied supply trade, rural tourism
and market towns are drastically hit also. There are relatively
few farmers now who have not diversified in some way and are earning
income from other sources in addition to farming.
6.2 The Common Agricultural Policy has always
reflected the broader rural economy and rural community issues
and the Royal Agricultural Society of England believes that it
should continue to do so. It should also increasingly include
climate change solutions, sustainable supply chains and energy.
The Society is relaxed about the name of the policy so long as
it continues to relate to both farming and the broader rural economy.
However, to abandon farming altogether in favour of a purely rural
policy at a time when farming has so much to offer to the world
would seem the height of perversity.
7. CONCLUSION
The Royal Agricultural Society of England believes
that the opportunities outlined above are exciting for the land-based
sector and at the same time offer the chance of a future when
the sector will be able to support itself and make a significant
contribution to the overall economy of member states. The Society
believes that, above all, farmers want to make an economic and
environmental contribution provided that this makes them profitable
and sustainable. But they will require help to reach this stage.
8 June 2007
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