Former National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president and farmer, Baroness Minette Batters, has been appointed by Defra Secretary Steve Reed to lead a review of farm profitability.
The appointment by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Steve Reed will see Batters providing recommendations on farm profitability both to him and the Farming Minister.
Batters will listen to farmers and growers, covering all land areas and sectors of the industry, as well as engaging with other Government departments whose work impacts farmers. She will provide short-, medium- and long-term recommendations and propose actions for Government and industry that will support farming profitability as part of this Government’s New Deal for Farmers.
This work will be supported by a newly formed Profitability Unit within Defra.
Batters’ review will also help the development of the food strategy, farming roadmap and the Land Use Framework, and build on other work such as the review of Defra’s regulatory landscape led by Dan Corry. Her aim will be to ensure the farming sector is more viable, self-sustaining, and competitive in the long-term.
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, commented: “Backing British farmers is the backbone of all work to support rural economic growth and boost Britain’s food security.
“We have taken strong action to protect the future of the sector with the New Deal for Farmers. But we must go further and faster as part of our Plan for Change to put money into the pockets of farmers and drive growth.
“That is why I am delighted to appoint Baroness Batters, and her years of experience as a leader during a time of great change in British agriculture make her uniquely placed to provide recommendations on tackling the deep-rooted problems holding the sector back and support farmers’ long-term profits.”
Baroness Minette Batters stated: “I will leave no stone unturned in trying to find solutions to boost farm profitability. But we should be under no illusions how difficult this work will be. There will not be one ‘silver bullet’ to fire but I’m hopeful this review can make a difference to a sector that produces the nation’s food, underpins the rural economy, and delivers so much for the environment.
“I’m pleased to be appointed to lead this review and look forward to working with farmers and growers to provide recommendations to Government, food retailers, processors and manufacturers.”
Baroness Minette Batters is a past winner of the Food Management Today Food Industry Champion Award, presented to her in 2023.
