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ePolitix.com reports from the National Farmers Union fringe which focussed on the future of British farming, and sustaining food security in the future.
It was "crucial" to give priority to British food and British farmers, noted Caroline Spelman, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs in the NFU's fringe yesterday evening.
In his opening speech, NFU president Peter Kendall identified three key areas of importance: national planning frameworks, producing more and impacting less and common agricultural policy reform.
Farming minister, Jim Paice, said that it was vital to restore the industry to its "rightful place" in the economy.
After brief opening speeches, the floor was opened to questions.
A local councillor from Stansted asked about the regulatory burden that farmers faced, and wished for a promise that "farmers would not suffer."
He also commented on the failings of the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Paice disagreed and said that the Farm Animal Welfare Council had actually done a good job.
On the regulatory burden, Paice commented that in his eyes, the "bonfire" of regulations would never happen in full, but the main aspect of the recent review was to stop the gold plating of EU directives.
Caroline Spelman said that she was happy that there was "complete consensus" on the issue of reducing regulation.
Leader of Mid-Suffolk council, Tim Passmore, asked about the bureaucratic nature of the Rural Development Programme for England, and access to rural broadband.
Richard Benyon said that rural broadband provision was a key priority to the coalition, and said that the provision of rural broadband was a great way to improve social inclusion.
Peter Kendall said that it was just another example of the big society being applied to farmers.
Across Europe, it was being recognised that the RDPE was heading in the right direction, Spelman said.
Jim Paice said that it is a challenge to administer the RDPE budget until 2013, and said he did think that the day would come when there was no single payment for farmers.
A farmer asked about the decline in livestock farming and the scrapping of traditional battery cages.
Jim Paice confirmed that traditional battery cages will be scrapped on the 31st December 2011, and said that he was pleased that Poland's application for derogation was denied.
Caroline Spelman said that planning law caused a lot of the decline in livestock farming, and confirmed that the localism bill would create a "simplified and sped up" planning system.
She complained about the "mismatch" between planning law and the other agencies involved in the planning process.
A councillor in Windsor and Maidenhead asked about getting farmers involved in the big society.
Richard Benyon said that farmers have always been and will always continue to be part of the big society, whether it was from running events or being "pillars" of their community.
He suggested more school visits by farmers to promote their good work.
A question was asked about the creation of renewable energy from agricultural waste, to which Lord Henly said that although he was not opposed to energy creation from incineration, it did need to have greater regulation.
Peter Kendall said that there is a necessity to try new things and experiment, and this included energy from waste.
A representative from the Amateur Motor Cycle Association asked about holding events on agricultural land.
Benyon said that it was not for DEFRA to dictate how farmers choose to diversity their business.
A journalist from the Farmers Guardian asked about the advantages and disadvantages of cloned animals.
Caroline Spelman said that the question is whether cross bred animals should be consumed; and said that she was waiting for confirmation on this issue from the European Commission.
She erred on the side of the scientific advice, which said that a cross bred animal has essentially had its "genetic clock reset."
After a question on bovine TB, Jim Paice said that he wanted to be clear that no formal decision has been made, and that culling badgers was not the only option.
He stressed that the department wanted to provide the largest amount of options available.
Peter Kendall added that it was vital that farmers responded to the consultation that their voices were heard.
A delegate urged for a "sound base" in the industry, and questioned where the next generation of farmers was going to come from.
Jim Paice said that although this problem had always existed, the industry had carried on with no problem.
He spoke of the need to make the industry financially worthwhile for young farmers.
The last question urged the ministerial team not to "throw the baby out with the bathwater" with regard to regional development agencies.
Benyon said that there would be much better structures put in place, and said that it was a case of waiting for the announcement.
In closing, Peter Kendall said that there had been a huge change in the last few years, and politicians and the public alike had realised that British food production was important.
Caroline Spelman said that it would be likely that by 2030 there would be a food shortage; which underpinned the need to make the industry more resilient.
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