HTA comments on Defra’s 25-year Farming Roadmap

The HTA has responded to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announcement of The Farming Roadmap 2050.

The new plan aims to give farmers the clarity to invest, adapt and build a profitable, productive, sustainable and resilient future. It also highlights a number of points that impact the horticultural sector.

© Horticultural Trades AssociationJennifer Pheasey (HTA Director of Policy and Public Affairs) with Rt Hon James Murray MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the Labour Party Conference

Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), commented:

“Today’s announcement of a 25-year Farming Roadmap, including reiterating the current development of a Horticulture Sector Growth Plan, is welcome, but it now needs to translate into action and investment to support our industry to be competitive and deliver real green growth.

“While the roadmap includes funding for areas such as robotics, soil health, precision breeding, and water management, investment, schemes, and support must be accessible and applicable to HTA member businesses that deliver for the UK’s gardens, green spaces, and green infrastructure, and support the delivery of environmental targets.

“Our members, who represent the entire environmental horticulture supply chain from growers and retailers to suppliers and landscapers, are navigating challenging times with rising operational costs, regulatory burdens, and trade and border issues. Securing the Seasonal Worker Scheme until 2030 will provide some much-needed certainty and confidence for UK growers who rely on seasonal workers during peak growing periods to plug skills and labour shortages.

“The report is a step in the right direction, but the devil is in the detail. The HTA will examine the roadmap more closely and continue working with the government and other industry partners to develop a dedicated Horticulture Sector Growth Plan to improve competitiveness, innovation, productivity, and resilience in the environmental horticulture sector. We also reiterate our call for a new date for the UK-EU Leaders’ Summit and details of future SPS trading arrangements to help ease barriers, unnecessary costs, and the disruptions our members constantly face at our border.”