Leaders of over 100 organisations from across the nation's food supply chain have put their names to a manifesto setting out the key principles that can help ensure Brexit is a success for the supply of food in the UK.

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The UK Food Supply Chain Manifesto, released today, has been drawn up by organisations representing farmers producing the raw ingredients and their suppliers, right through to manufacturers and retailers. It sets out the need for positive outcomes on trade, labour, regulation and domestic agricultural policy.

With little more than 10 months to go before Brexit, the manifesto emphasises the importance of ensuring our departure from the EU does not undermine the food production and supply sectors in the UK.

The manifesto has been sent to the Prime Minister by NFU President Minette Batters on behalf of the signatories, as well as other key cabinet ministers.

Download the UK Food Supply Chain Manifesto here

Mrs Batters said: "Today we are presenting a united voice as a food and farming sector worth at least £112bn to the UK economy and employing around 4 million people; a food and farming sector that meets 61% of the nation's food needs with high-welfare, traceable and affordable food; a food and farming sector that cares for three-quarters of the iconic countryside, that, in turn, delivers over £21bn in tourism back to our economy.

"In the manifesto we warn, as a collective, that a Brexit that fails to champion UK food producers, and the businesses that rely on them, will be bad for the country’s landscape, the economy and critically our society. Conversely, if we get this right, we can all contribute to making Brexit a success for producers, food businesses and the British public, improving productivity, creating jobs and establishing a more sustainable food supply system.

 "When it comes to the nation's ability to produce food, we believe it is critical that the different elements of Brexit are carefully considered by all Government departments - including the Prime Minister who has herself spoken about the importance of supporting our sector through Brexit in recent days.

"As we enter this critical period in the Brexit negotiations, the signatories to this manifesto will be looking to Government to ensure its objectives are aligned with ours to ensure British food production - something of which every person in this country enjoys the benefits - gets the best possible deal post-Brexit."

The 105 signatories are:

Agility Agriculture Ltd

Agricultural Biotechnology Council

Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC)

Agrii

Agrovista UK Ltd

Armstrong Richardson

Asplins Producer Organisation Limited

Association of Independent Crop Consultants Ltd (AICC)

B & W Feeds (Mobile) Ltd

Bayer Crop Science

BerryWorld Group

Billericay Fertiliser Services Ltd

Branston Ltd.

British Egg Industry Council (BEIC)

British Growers Association

British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)

British Poultry Council (BPC)

British Retail Consortium (BRC)

British Society of Plant Breeders Ltd (BSPB)

British Summer Fruits

Busby Partners Limited

Cawood Scientific Ltd

Cefetra Ltd

CF Fertilisers UK Ltd

CN Seeds Ltd

Country Land and Business Association (CLA)

Dovecote Park

DSV UK Ltd.

East of Scotland Farmers Ltd

Elsoms Seeds Ltd

Farm Fresh PO Ltd

Federation of Bakers

Fengrain Ltd

Food and Drink Federation (FDF)

ForFarmers UK Limited

Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC)

Frontier Agriculture Ltd

Gleadell Agriculture Ltd

Glencore Agriculture UK Ltd

Hall Hunter Partnership Limited

Harbro Ltd

Haygrove Ltd

HL Hutchinson Ltd

Humphrey Feeds

ICL UK Ltd

International Meat Trade Association (IMTA)

JE & VM Dalton Ltd \ Dalton Seeds

John Thompson & Sons Ltd

KWS UK Ltd

Limagrain UK Ltd

Lion Seeds Ltd.

Lower Reule Farm Ltd

LS Plant Breeding

Lutton Farm

Manor Farm Feeds

Marks and Spencer (M&S)

Mars Horsecare UK Ltd

Meijer Seed Potato Ltd

National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC)

National Association of British and Irish Flour millers (NABIM)

National Farmers Union (NFU)

National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS)

National Office of Animal Health (NOAH)

National Pig Association (NPA)

National Sheep Association (NSA)

NFU Cymru

NIGTA

North East Grains

OMEX Agriculture Ltd

Openfield Agriculture Limited

Pearce Seeds Ltd

Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA)

Potato Processors Association (PPA)

Precision Liquids

Premium Crops a division of Cefetra Ltd

Princes Limited

ProCam UK Ltd

Promtek Ltd

Provision Trade Federation (PTF)

Quantil Agriculture Ltd

RAGT Seeds (UK)

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF)

Rumenco

Saaten Union (UK) Ltd

Sakata UK Ltd

Senova Ltd

Ses Vanderhave

Simpsons Malt Limited (incl. McCreath Simpson & Prentice and John Guthrie, trading divisions)

Strathclyde Nutrition

Tenant Farmers Association (TFA)

The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain (MAGB)

Tozer Seeds Ltd

Trouw Nutrition

UKHospitality

Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU)

Volac International Ltd

W & R Barnett Ltd and R & H Hall Ltd

WA Church (Bures) Ltd

William Thompson (York) Ltd and Bata Ltd

Winterwood Farms Limited

Withernay Company

WL Duffield

Wynnstay Group PLC

Yara UK Limited