AIC Welcomes Launch of Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has welcomed the Government’s launch of the Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England’s Future, highlighting the importance of providing long-term clarity and certainty for farmers and the agri-supply sector beyond the next harvest.
The roadmap sets out a 25-year vision for English agriculture, focused on improving profitability, productivity, sustainability and resilience, alongside immediate measures to support farm businesses through investment, innovation and supply chain reforms.
Responding to the announcement, AIC Chief Executive Robert Sheasby, who sits on the Government’s Farming and Food Partnership Board, said:
“We welcome the publication of a long-term roadmap for farming in England. Providing a clearer sense of direction beyond the next election is an important step in supporting confidence and investment across the whole agricultural and food chain sector. The focus on productivity, alongside profitability, resilience and sustainability, reflects priorities that are strongly aligned with the work of AIC Members in supporting productivity, competitiveness and the environment to deliver modern, sustainable, commercial agriculture.”
The Government roadmap also sets out measures to reduce barriers to trade and investment, support farmer collaboration, improve supply chain functioning, alongside recognising the importance of the wider food supply chain.
AIC emphasised that partnership working will be essential to delivering the roadmap in practice, with the Farming and Food Partnership Board providing a key mechanism to facilitate sector growth through collaboration between Government and business.
While welcoming the direction of travel, AIC noted that continued clarity on delivery and implementation will be important to ensure the roadmap supports confidence and long-term investment across the sector.
It is encouraging to see that the Government’s “Farming Roadmap 2050” reflects many of the recommendations set out in the AIC-commissioned independent report, Powering Productivity for Sustainable UK Food Security, launched in 2023.
AIC will continue to work with Government, industry partners and its Members to support the delivery of the roadmap and ensure the contribution of the agri-supply sector is fully reflected.
ENDS
About AIC
As the UK agricultural supply industry's leading trade association, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) represents businesses in key sectors within the supply chains that feed the nation.
Its Member businesses supply UK farmers and growers with the animal feed, fertiliser, seed, crop protection products, trusted advice and quality services that are essential to producing food, as well as trading crops and commodities across the globe.
Formed in October 2003 by a merger of three trade associations, today AIC has over 230 Members in the agri-supply trade and represents £17.8 billion* turnover at farmgate.
AIC works on behalf of its Members by lobbying policymakers and stakeholders, delivering information, providing trade assurance schemes, and offering technical support.
AIC Services manages a range of services, including Trade Assurance Schemes and professional registers recognised by the UK Government as essential means to underpin feed and food safety alongside fertiliser security.
These schemes and professional registers include:
- Trade Assurance Scheme for Combinable Crops (TASCC)
- Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS)
- Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS)
- European Seed Treatment Assurance (ESTA)
- Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS)
- Feed Adviser Register (FAR)
- Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
- Forage Assurance Scheme (FAA)
- AIC Services Palm Oil Credit Scheme (APOCS)
*According to a 2023 survey of AIC Members.
Press Contact
Wendy Ford, Communications Manager, AIC
+44 (0)1733 385230
[email protected]
Author
Wendy Ford
Wendy Ford is Communications Manager at AIC, creating and overseeing the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media.
