MPs visit Barfoots as part of NFU Food and Farming Fellowship

MPs on the Food and Farming Fellowship scheme visited Barfoots to learn about the challenges facing the horticulture sector and growers’ work to support the environment.

The MPs toured Sefter Farm, where they saw how vegetables are grown sustainably and learned about the farm’s work to turn waste into renewable energy through an on-site anaerobic digestion plant.

MPs Olivia Bailey, Dr Roz Savage and Rebecca Smith with Alex Semenyuk, Barfoots’ AD Plant Manager.

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: “Days 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.

Josh Newbury, MP for Cannock Chase getting to work in the courgette field. 

“Getting MPs out on farm really is the best way to help them to understand the issues. When 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. By 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.”

Highlighting the value of farming

During the visit it was highlighted to MPs how the nation’s fruit and vegetable growers can play a key role in the government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England.

The MPs get ready for a tour of the sweetcorn factory with Geoff Faulkner,  Barfoots Head of Factory. 

The economic value of farming to the economy was also discussed. Agriculture underpins the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, which is worth £147.8 billion to the UK economy and supports 4.38 million jobs.

Martin Emmett said: “Getting MPs out on farm really is the best way to help them to understand the issues. There 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.”

Julian Marks said: “The NFU Food 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.

Julian Marks, Barfoots Group CEO.

“Encouraging 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.

“We look forward to working with our colleagues at the NFU and in the wider industry to enable that engagement.”

Lucy Crowther, Barfoots Sustainability and Trials Manager talking to MPs Olivia Bailey, and Dr Roz Savage about the importance of biodiversity and soil health. 

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. 

L-R: MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire Olivia Bailey, MP for South West Devon Rebecca Smith, group CEO Julian Marks, MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth Rachel Taylor, MP for North West Cambridgeshire Sam Carling, MP for South Cotswolds Dr Roz Savage, MP for Cannock Chase Josh Newbury, NFU National Horticulture Board Chair Martin Emmett and Founder and Chair of Barfoots Peter Barfoot CBE.