New age for agriculture

Population growth presents one of the biggest global challenges of the century. Feeding the human population is a crucial task for the world's farmers. Politicians must develop the right conditions to enable food security at both a global and a national level.

But over the last decade British farmers and their produce have been regarded as dispensable, with the Government content to see food imports soar.

At last week's NFU conference Conservatives launched policies for farming - a New Age of Agriculture - which includes key conditions for a thriving agricultural sector.

These include promoting fair competition by honest country of origin food labelling and a supermarket ombudsman to enforce a code of practice: both measures will help ensure the fair treatment of suppliers. Reducing the burden of regulation would mean fewer on-farm inspections and greater emphasis on voluntary schemes for self-regulation.

Conservatives will ensure a robust negotiation over the 2013 review of the Common Agricultural Policy; and an animal health strategy that promotes a level playing field at Britain's high animal welfare standards.

In Shropshire, farming retains a crucial role within our rural economy. 51% of the Ludlow constituency is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where farmers are the primary custodians of the landscape and habitat.

The industry should look forward to a rewarding future under a Conservative government which wants it to succeed and believes that farming matters.