Farming

Horticulture sector needs support

Published

10 years ago

April 15, 2016

£8 billion: Trade gap with the EU on fruit and veg

A NEW REPORT from the inter-university Food Research Collaboration (FRC) shows the weak state of British fruit and vegetable production and urges policy-makers to give more attention to rebuilding UK horticulture.

According to the briefing paper, strengthening the sector would both reduce the food trade gap and benefit public health.

This is a practical issue which cuts across the current Brexit vs Bremain debate, according to Professor Tim Lang, of City University London, and FRC Research Fellow Dr Victoria Schoen.

The pair argue that horticulture ought to be central in the Government’s forthcoming 25- year food and farming plan, which is understood to commit to increasing food exports to pay for the huge £8 billion food import deficit.

In a statement on the report’s release, Co-authors Professor Lang and Dr Schoen said; “We worry that government strategy looks a bit like allowing Europe to feed the UK with good healthy produce – fruit and veg – while our food industry exports less desirable elements – alcohol and overprocessed, sugary, fatty foods.

“Actually, horticulture offers something relatively simple to improve matters. Grow more here, but make it sustainable production only.”

The report, Horticulture in the UK: potential for meeting dietary guideline demands, paints a sober picture of a mismatch between supply and demand in the UK, particularly in light of public health advice to eat more fruit and vegetables. Drawing on official and unpublished data, the report shows that there has been a big decline in the area given to UK horticultural production.

From 1985 to 2014, there has been a decline of 27% for fruit and vegetables combined. The area growing vegetables has declined by 26% and the area growing fruit by 35%. Fruit and vegetables are by far the greatest source of imports in the UK food system. The trade gap in horticulture has risen to £7.8 billion a year, about 37% of the UK’s total food trade gap of £21 billion in 2014.

Although some growers have extensive growing operations in Southern Europe and further afield, this makes sense for them as commercial enterprises but still does not resolve the serious lack of UK horticultural output.

Some imports (e.g. pineapples, avocados) cannot currently be grown in the UK but others which could be UK grown (e.g. brassicas, mushrooms, lettuce, apples, pears) have seen serious drops in production.

The proportion of the adult population (over 16 years) in the UK consuming five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day peaked in 2006 at 28% of males and 32% of females.

Only 9% of 11-15 year olds achieved an intake of five-a-day or more in the period 2008/09-2011/12, and only 14% of 16-24 year olds.

The Consumer Price Index for food items as a whole has shown a significant increase of 35% in 2007-2013. Within this, the price of vegetables has increased by 27% and fresh fruit by 26%, less than the average for the food sector as a whole.

The researchers noted that horticulture holdings are unevenly distributed across the country, which they said is partly for climatic reasons, but pointed out that areas which used to have sizeable sectors (e.g. the South West) have seen a heavy decline.

They said a ‘re-boot’ of regional strategies is overdue a review of planning and financial regulations and improve resilience in food and farming.

Currently, only 3.5% of the UK’s croppable land is used for horticulture (and only 2% of the farmed area in England), but this land produces £3.7 billion worth of produce and employs 12% of the agricultural labour force and at least 35% of the UK’s casual farm labour force.

The paper’s authors made a number of recommendations for the government, which is set to bring out its 25 year food and farming plan in the spring. They urged the government to apply a ‘health lens’ to its proposed focus on ‘Brand Britain’ and to work with industry and regional groups to give policy and financial support for horticulture.

This funding should include public health and environmental analysis to look at narrowing the gap between supply and demand for home grown fruit and veg, the authors said, as well as funding more research into sustainable production methods.

Professor Tim Lang, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City University London, and Chair of the FRC, commented on Thursday: “At a time when some politicians are urging the UK to vote to leave the EU, it is somewhat alarming to note the poor state of UK self-reliance in horticulture.

“This ought to be the ‘good news’ in food and health. Why is the country producing lots of sugar but not enough fruit and veg?

“We have been genuinely shocked by the mismatch of UK supply and demand in horticulture. Our report points out some weak links in the chain: low wages, reliance on migrant labour, a suspicion of low returns to growers, a waste of land and resources.

“These factors should receive more attention from academics and civil society. And politicians need to look very carefully at the sector. Dairy farmers have been understandably ‘noisy’ about being squeezed by rising costs and powerful supermarkets.

The public needs to be more aware of a not dissimilar situation in fruit and veg. “The public says it wants to eat British. Chefs encourage it. But the Government isn’t listening. Its message is more about exports than about growing more here. We think this risky.”

Dr Victoria Schoen, Research Fellow for the FRC, said: “We frequently hear the five-a-day message – many of us can see the reasoning for this. Why is it then that so few of us take any notice? What would happen to our supermarket fresh produce shelves if we did?

“We are eating slightly less fruit and veg per person than we did ten years ago but this is increasingly fruit and veg that are not grown here.

“It is time policy-makers considered the reasons for this and whether anything can be done to encourage consumption, and production, of British produce.

“British horticulture has contracted partly because of lack of demand for the things we grow here. A more thorough examination of the food systems in place is required to understand why products that should be more expensive – those that are highly processed – are often in greater demand than those that come to us in the fresh-from-the field state.”

Business

Award-winning Herbrandston holiday site set to expand

Published

2 days ago

June 1, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS to expand a Pembrokeshire holiday operation which was voted as the best of its type in the UK by the Caravan Club in its very first year of operation have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Dean and Sharon Philpin sought permission to expand the existing holiday operation at Woody Kiln Farm, Herbrandston Village, Herbrandston by converting a former agricultural barn to four short-term holiday lets.

A supporting statement through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “Woody Kiln Farm is located to the east of Herbrandston village, to the south easterly side of Havens Park residential estate. It is a registered agricultural holding, and the land is used mainly for the raising and grazing of sheep covering 12 / 13 acres.

“The farm complex comprises of a number of traditional outbuildings and the applicants main dwelling surrounding a surfaced courtyard. Immediately to the south is a caravan site registered with the Caravan & Motorhome Club as a Certificated Location for up to five touring caravans and motorhomes.

“This Certificated Location has been in operation for 10 years and was the first ever site to be voted the best site in UK on its first year of operating by its members. In recent years it was voted best site in Wales.”

The site has won many similar Certificated Location awards.

It went on to say: “The application proposal relates to a total of three barns that integrate into one building footprint. It is intended to reuse the barns and provide four short-term holiday let units that will be run in conjunction with our client’s current Caravan Club site, situated immediately to the east of the barns.”

It was described as: “A sympathetic design that incorporates no change to the footprint or roof design and little change to the fenestration is the main theme of the design strategy.”

An officer report recommending approval, subject to conditions including a unilateral undertaking to provide a contribution to affordable housing said: “Strategic Policy have advised that the scale and layout of the units could lend themselves to residential use and that an affordable housing contribution may be required.

“Whilst the proposed use is short-term holiday let given that the properties are capable of use as full residential properties, it is proposed that a full unfettered residential permission be granted, with no condition for holiday let-only, meaning that the property could be used for full residential use or second home use.”

Based on current affordable housing contributions, that amounted to £26,170, the report said.

The application was conditionally approved, conditions including the affordable housing element.

Farming

Rural crime cost Wales more than £2m last year, NFU Mutual report reveals

Published

2 days ago

June 1, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WALES saw the cost of rural crime fall by 21 per cent last year, but farmers are being warned not to become complacent after a rise in tractor and livestock thefts.

New figures from NFU Mutual show rural crime cost Wales an estimated £2.2m in 2025, down from £2.8m the previous year.

The fall mirrors the UK-wide picture, with the total cost of rural crime across the UK dropping from £44.1m in 2024 to £41.5m in 2025.

NFU Mutual said the reduction showed the impact of investment, police work and closer collaboration between farmers, insurers and rural crime teams. However, the insurer warned that organised criminals continue to target the countryside for high-value farm machinery, livestock and equipment.

In Wales, the cost of agricultural vehicle theft rose by six per cent, with criminals targeting tractors across the country. Livestock theft also increased by almost seven per cent compared with 2024.

NFU Mutual said the rise was particularly concerning in Wales, where livestock farming plays a central role in the rural economy and food production.

The company said rural crime remained a serious issue for farming communities, not only because of the financial loss but because of the emotional impact on farmers and their families.

Nick Turner, Chief Executive of NFU Mutual, said: “For more than 20 years, NFU Mutual has called for a stronger response to rural crime, and we know the financial and emotional toll it takes on farmers.

“As a mutual, our support goes beyond paying claims: last year we invested over £500,000 in rural crime initiatives, including ongoing funding for the National Rural Crime Unit and the UK’s first dedicated livestock theft officer.

“We also collaborate with the unit to identify at-risk areas and support recovery efforts.

“In addition, we worked with local police forces to install 13 ANPR cameras across rural hotspots in England and Wales to track suspicious vehicles and disrupt criminal activity.”

Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said rural crime was becoming increasingly organised.

She said: “Rural crime is more organised than ever, with criminals prepared to go to extreme lengths, and 2025 proved no exception.

“Yet targeted investment in rural crime initiatives alongside industry collaboration with law enforcement is helping drive down crime, with our latest figures highlighting a 21 per cent fall year-on-year in Wales, to an estimated £2.2m.

“The impact of rural crime extends beyond financial loss, undermining trust and connection, often leaving a trauma that can remain with farmers, their families and wider communities for a lifetime.

“But we cannot afford to be complacent. With proposed policing reforms on the horizon, it is crucial rural crime teams receive fair resources and specialist support to empower local forces to respond quickly to countryside incidents caused by organised and serious criminals.”

Across the UK, the highest rural crime cost was recorded in the North East at £7.6m, followed by the South East at £6.8m, the Midlands at £6.4m and the South West at £6.2m.

Wales recorded the joint-lowest estimated cost alongside Northern Ireland, although Northern Ireland saw a 24 per cent increase.

A survey of 119 NFU Mutual agents found that 91 per cent believed rural crime was disrupting farming in their area, while 79 per cent knew farmers who had been targeted repeatedly.

Almost a third said they had seen farmers change practices or leave the industry altogether because of rural crime.

NFU Mutual said the figures were based on claims statistics rounded to the nearest £100,000.

Farming

Badger Trust urges new Welsh Government to reject cull

Published

6 days ago

May 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Polling shows strong public opposition to killing badgers in Wales

BADGER Trust is calling on Wales’ incoming government to rule out badger culling, after new polling suggested widespread public opposition to killing badgers as part of efforts to tackle bovine TB.

The call comes as a newly expanded Senedd begins its work and a new Welsh Government prepares to set out its priorities.

Badger Trust said ministers and political parties should reject calls for culling and instead focus on “evidence-led cattle measures” to control the disease.

Polling carried out by RSPCA Cymru found that only 27% of people in Wales support badger culling, while 46% are opposed. The survey also found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with killing badgers, and 68% opposed the use of public money to fund culling.

The organisation said the figures showed bovine TB was likely to remain one of the most significant animal welfare issues facing Wales in the coming years.

As Plaid Cymru prepares to form a minority government, with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS expected to become Wales’ new First Minister, Badger Trust is urging all parties to take note of public feeling on the issue.

More than half of those surveyed, 51.8%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backs badger culling, compared with just 7.2% who said they would be more likely to do so.

The poll also found strong support for wildlife protection, with 98% of respondents describing it as important and 69% saying it was “very important”. Around 73% said they were concerned about badger welfare, while 53.8% described badgers as iconic British mammals and 43.5% said they were heavily misunderstood.

Nigel Palmer, chief executive of Badger Trust, said: “The people of Wales have spoken loud and clear: badger culling is a vote loser for the new government.

“It’s clear how much the people of Wales value their badgers as an integral part of their landscape. This underlines the fact that badgers belong here.”

Mr Palmer said Wales should learn from what he described as “politically driven mistakes” in England, where more than 250,000 badgers have been culled over the past 13 years.

He said: “Farmers need support to tackle bovine TB where the infections arise — within the national cattle population, particularly in the larger herds.

“The answer lies in evidence-based cattle measures, delivered in partnership with vets and farmers, not in the unnecessary killing of wildlife.”

Badger Trust said Wales had already shown that bovine TB could be reduced in cattle without killing badgers, through science-led cattle measures aimed at tackling the disease more effectively and humanely.

The charity said the message from the Welsh public was clear, and that Wales should not follow England “down the path of badger culling”.

Badger Trust said: “It’s time to end the badger blame game. The science is solid, and the public has voiced its opinion; now it is time for the new government to listen and act accordingly.”

Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers across England and Wales and works with local badger groups through its Badgers Belong Here campaign.