Smaller, localised and more diverse — the future of farming after Brexit

At the start of every year, farmers, politicians, and lobbyists go to the Oxford Farming Conference to talk about the big issues in agriculture. The event is usually a big talking shop but Brexit means that this year is different.

If there is one silver lining from Brexit it is that it is has given the UK a once in a generation opportunity to completely overhaul the way we regulate and subsidise farming in Britain.

To say that the current subsidy system is archaic would be a gross understatement. Payments under the existing Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are based on how much land is owned. Not only does this reward large landowners (recipients of the subsidy include the Duke of Westminster, the Queen, and a Saudi Prince) it also means that we are using public money to subsidise the production of factory farm food. British farmers receive around £3.2 billion in subsidies but the vast majority of that money does not support sustainable or higher animal welfare production — only 3% of the UK agricultural land is organic and a quarter of all cropland is produced for livestock feed.

At the start of 2017, we need to think about how we can retarget the farm subsidy away from large landowners towards smaller British farmers that produce the highest-quality food. There are a number of options but the New Economics Foundation, a think-tank, has already suggested a new subsidy system that could level the playing field for smaller producers. This will help those types of farmers who attend the alternative Oxford Real Farming Conference, which focuses on ethical and sustainable food production.

Post-Brexit, I am also worried about the potential scope of new free trade deals with non-EU countries. Like with TTIP, those of us who care passionately about the quality and provenance of food will need to pressure the Government to make sure that free trade with the rest of the world does not mean importing poor quality food through the back door.

I firmly believe that the clock is ticking on the industrialised, factory model of farming. It is destroying the natural resources that it has relied on for so long to maintain its profitability.

Another big change is that Brexit has significantly lowered the value of the pound, which is making agricultural imports more expensive. If this encourages more retailers to source food locally then great, but my big concern is that it will just accelerate the practice of ‘optimisation’ in processed food. The supermarkets’ high volume, low margin business model means that when prices rise, the supermarkets bring in the food consultants to pump their products with sugars and chemicals to keep prices down while preserving its so-called ‘mouthfeel’.

I firmly believe that the clock is ticking on the industrialised, factory model of farming. It is destroying the natural resources that it has relied on for so long to maintain its profitability.

This is not a moan! I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of UK agriculture. At Farmdrop we are showing that with mobile technology you can put the power back into the hands of sustainable food producers, where they can seek more profitability, and allow consumers to access their food at lower prices.

This is the future of farming and Farmdrop is showing how you do it.

Ben Pugh is the founder and CEO of Farmdrop the ethical grocer that delivers high-quality, delicious food direct from local producers to consumers.