he floods across the country this summer were tragic to behold. For a fortnight in July, every news bulletin seemed to feature images of people being winched to safety by helicopter from homes ruined by the rising waters. You couldn’t open a newspaper without seeing photographs of people stranded on car roofs, awaiting rescue.
Problems for our farmers tend to become problems for everyone
But there were other casualties of the deluge. I’m talking about the broccoli, peas, potatoes and salad vegetables, and all the livestock that were affected. And though the long-term effects on the wider economy won’t be known for a while, they could be significant. I’m not trying to be alarmist, merely emphasise that problems for our farmers tend to become problems for everyone. Ensuring agriculture’s sustainability should be a priority for all.
One of the most immediate ways to do this is by buying British, regional and local produce wherever possible. All the fresh chicken, beef, pork, milk, eggs and cream in Waitrose are British, as are the strawberries and 70 per cent of the apples during their respective seasons. Such food offers real value, incorporating not just price but long-term profitability for British growers and security of supply.
Buying British is all well and good for now, but we need to keep an eye on the future, too. Did you know that just three per cent of Britain’s farmers are under 35 years old, while almost 60 per cent are 55 and over? We need to inspire the next generation of producers – and the innovative ideas and energy of role models like Richard Mawson and David Barnard are crucial in this respect.
Richard won Waitrose’s Young Farmer Producer award this year. Feeling the pinch on his Cumbria dairy farm, he invested in new bottling equipment, which slashed milking time and freed him to target new local markets. There are now four vans and a float distributing Mawson’s milk within a 30-mile radius of the farm, while his cream is sent to local cheese- and butter-makers.
In Norfolk, David Barnard runs a livestock farm and butchery and has been experimenting with less familiar cuts to get the right product for his customers. Keen to maintain quality, David grows his own feeds, while open days on the farm and demonstrations at the butchery help to engage the public.
The number of young people joining agricultural courses at colleges is rising
We need more such innovators and, happily, early signs are good: the number of young people joining agricultural courses at colleges is rising. If agriculture thrives through these new entrepreneurs, farmers will gain the confidence to develop their businesses, giving the young a reason to stay on the farm. New blood will also be encouraged into the sector and that’s got to be good news for all who relish real diversity in their food choices.
Mark Price is managing director of Waitrose.