Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed was among more than sixty attendees at the event which included industry experts, water companies, environmental NGOs and supply chain representatives, brought together by the NFU to discuss ongoing concerns.
The summit, held on NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos' farm in Yorkshire, provided a platform for constructive discussions on the challenges of water pollution, climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, the evolving regulatory financial pressures and lack of critical investment in water infrastructure, all within the context of the impacts on national food security.
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鈥淣ow鈥檚 the time to start having open and honest conversations and treating water as a national strategic priority.鈥�
NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos
皇家华人has identified three key pledges on water availability and quality:
- Robust data: Support a pilot scheme in a defined catchment with a scientific partner to test methodologies for farmers to undertake their own water quality testing. We will bring to the attention of members new, promising data and technology-led approaches that can help access water and aid with efficient application.
- Advice and information: Grow our water quality information for farmers and growers to raise awareness of relevant obligations, including more best practice advice and case studies, signposting to rules and funding initiatives, and information on how to prepare for an Environment Agency inspection. We will work with members across all our regions to support the formation of water abstractor groups and communicate the risks and opportunities in the future demand for water while protecting the environment.
- Partnership working: Convene industry experts and regulators to develop and roll out at scale nutrient management knowledge exchange and professional development. This will support water quality outcomes, nutrient use efficiency and productivity. We will work with planners and regulators on resilient and sustainable options for accessing water, particularly during times and in places of scarcity, to deliver food security. We will also continue our work as a founding member of the Rural Flood Resilience Partnership.
Open and honest conversations
Speaking after the summit, NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos said: 鈥淲ater is our most precious resource. It鈥檚 absolutely vital to producing the food our country needs.
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鈥淏ut we鈥檙e facing increasing pressures on water be it resources, flooding, or quality. Whether it鈥檚 from vital nutrients that we use to grow food impacting water quality in rivers often from agricultural runoff or the cycle of drought and floods leading to poor harvests, it all undermines the stability and resilience of our farming businesses and ultimately impacts our food security.
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鈥淭he knock-on effect is clearly highlighted in a survey of NFU members which reveals nearly two-thirds have experienced a severe weather event in the past 10 years that has affected their farming business in some way.
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鈥淣ow鈥檚 the time to start having open and honest conversations and treating water as a national strategic priority. For our part, that means rolling our sleeves up, taking the initiative and tackling these challenges head on.
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鈥淎s an NFU, we have made actionable pledges for farmers to implement on the ground and we will work in partnership with the industry, to do what we can. But we cannot do it alone. We need everyone to start thinking about what we can each individually and collectively do and what will make a real difference.鈥�
What was discussed?
During the event, three breakout sessions were held looking at issues of investment, innovation and circular economy.
An overriding message from attendees was the need for urgent investment in water infrastructure 鈥� as well as access to robust data and better planning systems that supports necessary infrastructure improvements on farms for slurry storage and on farm reservoirs.
It was also encouraging to hear from Defra Secretary Steve Reed that he will look at further actions within the updated/next round of SFI that will help farmers reduce water pollution.
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Rachel Hallos added: "This week鈥檚 summit was just the start. These conversations must continue so we have a joined-up approach that allows us to collaborate better with government, local authorities, environmental NGOs, the supply chain and water companies, and ensures farmers have access to a clean supply of water to produce sustainable food the for the nation and prioritises UK food security as national security.鈥�
See the day in pictures:
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NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos speaking at the Water Summit
Steve Reed, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, speaking at the NFU Water Summit
NFU President Tom Bradshaw addressing Water Summit attendees
NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaking at the NFU Water Summit
L-R NFU President Tom Bradshaw, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed and NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos
WaterUK CEO David Henderson, Environment Agency Chief Alan Lovell, NFU Vice-president Rachel Hallos, NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Nicola Shaw from Yorkshire Water with Baitings Reservoir in the background
Photographs: Kate Mallender Photography
