Introduction

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is unique amongst environmental NGOs in taking a substantial interest in the long term viability of farming businesses, the merits of indigenous food production and the proper valuing of land as a productive resource. CPRE recognises the substantial interrelationship between farming, landscapes and habitats. We place great importance on how land use influences positive and negative changes to landscape character and wildlife habitats, which in turn provide regional and local identity.

Environmentally sustainable food production

CPRE understands the tensions inherent in the pursuit of food and commodity production while also maintaining and enhancing landscape character, wildlife habitats and public enjoyment of farmed land. Skilled, productive farming has wrought the superb range of landscapes, upland and lowland which we enjoy as a nation. In many cases, retaining semi-natural habitats, the capacity to produce food and other commodities, and the skills and knowledge to achieve sustainable farming, are mutually dependent. Agri-environment schemes can play an important role in ensuring the pressure to increase and intensify production of crops or livestock does not undo the substantial public investment spent on improving the farmed environment to enhance its landscape character and protect important wildlife habitats.

Climate change

Paradoxically, climate change could make England’s farmland more valuable in global terms if growing conditions deteriorate to a greater degree in major commodity and food producing areas of the world. The onset of climate change will mean far more uncertainty than ever before over the viability and productivity of farm land everywhere in the world. Even if climate change is less severe than anticipated, there are likely to be very serious shortages of water for agriculture in many parts of the world. The relatively efficient use of water for food production in England will become a more valuable factor in world food production. Equally, there will be a need to ensure the resilience of habitats facing pressures from climate change. This will require the careful expansion and targeting of agri-environment expenditure and the gradual relocation of species as climatic conditions shift. Future land management policies will need to ensure land can be used flexibly and will need to be able to retain and utilise the existing skills base needed to maintain land use versatility.

Further reform of the CAP

Further reform of the CAP could be a great opportunity. But equally, it could help destroy the system which puts to good use the vast majority of the land surface of England and indeed Europe, and with it much of its cultural significance, distinctive landscape character and wildlife. The issues of self sufficiency and food security raise a variety of questions beyond the merits of the case itself: whether or not there is a need for a “critical mass” in farming; the level of resilience of English and European farming businesses to world competition; and the question of the export of environmental damage through the raising of environmental standards.

CPRE, as a signatory to Wildlife and Countryside Link’s policy perspective (Beyond the Pillars, March 2008), on CAP reform would like to see the CAP evolve into a new policy that delivers sustainable land management. The policy should reward farmers for the full range of environmental public goods that are produced through farming activity, while also being compatible with sufficient provision of high quality food and renewable energy.

CPRE, as a signatory to Wildlife and Countryside Link’s policy perspective (Beyond the Pillars, March 2008), on CAP reform would like to see the CAP evolve into a new policy that delivers sustainable land management. The policy should reward farmers for the full range of environmental public goods that are produced through farming activity, while also being compatible with sufficient provision of high quality food and renewable energy. Such a policy may not require complete self sufficiency in food. However, it should avoid relying heavily on a global approach to food and energy security focused purely on free markets which will be susceptible to extreme weather, global or regional economic instability and/or political events that could disrupt supplies.

Food and the consumer

CPRE seeks to increase consumer interest and ultimately demand for local food through an understanding of its environmental, economic and social benefits. An effective approach to a food security policy would foster local food communities and networks through grant support and a lighter touch of regulation. We would like to see increased commitment from the Government, relevant agencies and regional bodies on promoting and securing supplies of local foods for public procurement purposes, for example for schools, hospitals and prisons.

Land use polarisation

CPRE recognises that the competition between different land use interests is increasing. It is important to develop clear policy objectives for the sustainable use of our productive land and the appearance of the countryside. Clear democratic processes must be established that enables society to make choices that ensure the nature and extent of development is environmentally sustainable.

The protection of productive land from development is essential for food security and for the environment. CPRE considers that there is an urgent need for new European and UK policy measures which protect soils from development and which include a calculation of the potential of land to produce environmental public goods, food, fuel and other commodities in changing climatic conditions.

Conclusion

CPRE believes that policies that seek to deliver and secure sustainable food production will need to have clearly set out objectives, with strong and sustained political support from across Government if they are to be effective and not fall victim to outside global and political pressures. CPRE believes it will be necessary for all who have an interest in agriculture, food production and environmental protection to work collectively to resolve any food security problems that may arise.