Although the government has claimed to be the ‘greenest ever’ and has announced initiatives it says will support farms and small rural businesses, UK government agriculture policy has been the subject of scathing criticism in the form of a ‘report card’ by transnational environmental organisation Friends of the Earth.

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One year after agriculture minister Jim Paice promised the government would “play its part” in shifting the UK agriculture sector towards sustainability at a Friends of the Earth conference, and would report on its progress in so doing, Friends of the Earth has carried out its own analysis of the government’s progress.

Although the environmental group said that Defra has made some commendable efforts, including launching a ‘green food project’ to look into ‘sustainable intensification’, according to FoE analysis, most of the issues identified by Mr Paice last year have seen a distinct lack of action and food and farming policy remains inequitable and unsustainable.

In its report card, which focused on livestock and dairy production, Friends of the Earth lambasted the government for its failure to promote Common Agricultural Policy reforms that support more sustainable livestock production, such as hill farming and including a protein crop in rotations, although the group did admit Defra has engaged stakeholders throughout the supply chain in research on alternative protein sources to soy feed, which is becoming worryingly expensive.

The Friends of the Earth report also criticised the government’s inaction on sustainable procurement. FoE said the new draft of Government Buying Standards could have made moves towards sustainable food procurement in hospitals, government offices and schools, but that the result was a “missed opportunity” and that no action had been taken on promoting healthy, sustainable diets. In November last year, a coalition of NGOs revealed the government’s revised buying standards remain less stringent than fast food chain McDonald’s.

Last year, Mr Paice also pledged action on expediting the appointment of a supermarket ombudsperson that will ensure farmers are not exploited by large retailers. Although there has been no word from the government on the subject of an adjudicator, this may feature in the Queen’s speech next month.  

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Vicki Hird commented on the campaign organisation’s findings, "Ministers are failing to tackle the enormous impact food production has on our wildlife and landscapes - they must step up to the plate and insist on planet-friendly food and farming. Given the enormous damage caused by the UK livestock industry, this won’t make the grade."

In response, Defra denied it is failing in this respect; a Defra spokesperson pointed out that the government currently spends £400 million a year on agri-environment schemes and said the department is producing a Sustainable Livestock report, which will be available soon.

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