Co-operatives UK welcomes commitments to support farmer co-operatives in government’s Farming Roadmap 2050
News item
Co-operatives UK has welcomed the commitment to supporting farmer co-operatives in government’s long-term plan for farming.
The Farming Roadmap 2050 is government’s plan for a more profitable, productive, resilient and sustainable farming sector in England, in a world of growing food insecurity, economic disruption and climate and environment emergencies. In it, government says it will address barriers to the development and growth of farmer co-operatives.
Co-operatives UK, along with its members and partners – including Arla – the Co-operative and Mutual Sector Business Council and the Co-operative Party, has consistently made the case for expanding farmer co-operation, as a strategic action to boost farm profitability, resilience and UK food security. The Farming Roadmap suggests government has listened.
The Roadmap says co-operatives and wider collaboration will be promoted to increase supply chain fairness, manage volatility and risk, aid innovation adoption, help upland farming, unlock public procurement opportunities and manage water.
Co-operatives are great for all this. But the best impacts will come if horizontal and vertical co-operation is also integrated into other parts of the Roadmap, including in all Sector Growth Plans, in the design of sustainability schemes and in work on data.
An early test of how well co-operatives are integrated into the wider plan, is the extent to which the £30m Farmer Collaboration Fund supports the development of existing and new co-operatives.
Co-operatives UK will work with our members and government to help maximise the benefits of co-operation. The Farming Roadmap has been published, the journey starts here.
