The MPs toured Barfoots鈥� family-owned Sefter Farm, near Bognor Regis, where they saw how vegetables are grown sustainably and learned about the farm鈥檚 work to turn waste into renewable energy through an on-site anaerobic digestion plant.
They were also put to work in the fields, harvesting some of the 4,500 acres of sweetcorn and 300 acres of courgettes planted this year.
MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire Olivia Bailey, MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling, MP for Cannock Chase Josh Newbury, MP for South West Devon Rebecca Smith, MP for South Cotswolds Dr Roz Savage and MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth Rachel Taylor are taking part in the NFU Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme.
Understanding the challenges
During the visit to Sefter Farm, the MPs discussed key challenges growers are facing with NFU National Horticulture Board Chair Martin Emmett, Founder and Chair of Barfoots Peter Barfoot CBE, group CEO Julian Marks and Farms Director Neil Cairns.
Martin Emmett, who is himself a West Sussex grower, said: 鈥淒ays like this are vital to ensure MPs have a proper understanding of the issues and challenges faced by the farming industry and the key role farmers and growers play in feeding the nation, driving the economy, supporting the environment and improving public health.
鈥淕etting MPs out on farm really is the best way to help them to understand the issues.鈥�
NFU National Horticulture Board Chair Martin Emmett
鈥淲hen the MPs had a go at harvesting some of the crops they saw how hard the work is and the value of the Seasonal Worker Scheme.
鈥淏y seeing how waste is turned into renewable energy, along with other sustainable farming methods adopted on the farm, they learned how farmers and growers are fully invested in the circular economy and supporting their communities and the environment.鈥�
Highlighting the value of farming
During the visit it was highlighted to MPs how the nation鈥檚 fruit and vegetable growers can play a key role in the government鈥檚 10-Year Health Plan for England.
The economic value of farming to the economy was also discussed. Agriculture underpins the UK鈥檚 largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, which is worth 拢147.8 billion to the UK economy and supports 4.38 million jobs.
Martin Emmett said: 鈥淕etting MPs out on farm really is the best way to help them to understand the issues.
鈥淭here is also a growing understanding among urban MPs about how our farming industry is vital to towns and cities, as well as rural areas, by playing a big role in supporting urban economies and supporting the hospitality sector.鈥�
Julian Marks said: 鈥溁始一薋ood and Farming Fellowship has been a wonderful opportunity for the Barfoots team to showcase their work in delivering sustainably grown veg to consumers across the UK.
鈥淓ncouraging more politicians and policy makers to engage with the farming industry and understand the strategic importance and complex and varied nature of the industry remains a priority.
鈥淲e look forward to working with our colleagues at the NFU and in the wider industry to enable that engagement.鈥�
Other issues that feature in the NFU's revised Horticulture Growth Strategy were also discussed. This included increasing costs being piled on horticulture businesses, fairness in the supply chain, inefficiencies in the planning system and the need for long-term certainty over the Seasonal Worker Scheme. 聽
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MPs Olivia Bailey, Dr Roz Savage and Rebecca Smith with Farms Director Neil Cairns touring Barfoots
