The Government has today (18 December) published Baroness Minette Batters' report, which is a farm profitability review for the UK Government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).
The review aims to boost farm incomes and viability post-Brexit, with key recommendations focusing on better economic valuation of farming and horticulture, improving market data collection, simplifying regulations, improving market access (especially for exports), and reviewing tax incentives, grants and investments in farming while supporting nature. Although Baroness Batters' review was agriculture-led, a number of the recommendations are relevant to environmental horticulture.
© Horticultural Trades Association
Jennifer Pheasey, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), commented: "The HTA welcomed the opportunity to feed into the Review of Farming Profitability, and thanks Baroness Batters for undertaking this wide-ranging work. Whilst the primary focus is on agriculture and edibles, it is encouraging to see recommendations that acknowledge the wider value of horticulture, recognising the critical role we can play in boosting economic growth and protecting our environment. The HTA has long called for an environmental horticulture strategy and recognition across the government's policy portfolio areas – from economic to health – that the sector can support and also the support the sector needs.
"The Batters Review acknowledges our sector's value, contributing £38billion to GDP, supporting 722,000 jobs in the UK and generating £8.4 billion in tax revenue for the Chancellor. We have the potential to grow further, but we need clear and consistent policies to support this growth, from addressing skills challenges to regulatory burdens, access to funding and crop protection to planning policy. We look forward to understanding how some of the Batters Review recommendations may shape and improve policies impacting UK horticulture.
"Clearly, the elephant in the room remains the cost squeeze on businesses, and we welcome Baroness Batters acknowledging that Inheritance Tax changes have hit the sector hard. Following last year's budget and, subsequently, this Autumn's Budget, many of our member businesses are reporting that they are running at a standstill just to keep afloat. The industry wants to grow, invest, and become ever more competitive here in the UK, but rising business costs and the impact of tax changes make that extremely challenging.
"We will continue to examine the details of this review and next steps, and how we can maximise this opportunity for UK environmental horticulture."
For more information:
Horticultural Trades Association
[email protected]
www.hta.org.uk
