English The UK is due to hold a General Election on July 4th 2024. We want to push food and farming higher up the political agenda, and make sure that politicians, candidates and party leaders are taking are future of our food system seriously in their election campaigns.
Beth ydym ni’n ei wneud?
In October 2023 we published our Manifesto for Food, Farming and Forestry which outlines policy recommendations that we’d like to see the next government implement to support agroecology, food sovereignty and the right to food in England and the rest of the UK. We are working hard to share our manifesto with key politicians and supporting our members to engage with their local parliamentary candidates to raise awareness about the issues facing small farms and growers, as well as the opportunities and benefits that agroecology presents to numerous environmental, social and economic issues that we are currently facing in the UK.
Our top five demands for a new government:
- Double the Agriculture Budget for all four UK nations
- Introduce a Capital Grants Scheme for horticulture start-ups
- Develop the New Entrants Support Scheme to explicitly address access to land
- Introduce a ‘Green Economy Apprenticeship Scheme’ which includes agroecological farming and food production
- Commit to procuring 50% of public food from local organic producers
You can read about these demands in detail yma.
It’s important to note that food and farming and devolved issues in UK law and policy. This means that while the UK Government is responsible for food and farming in England, the governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are responsible for food and farming policy in their respective nations. You can read more about this in our Guide to the 2024 General Election.
What can you do?
Write to party leaders using our online letter-writing action
Use our letter-writing action to urge party leaders and key politicians to commit to key food and farming policies in their General Election campaign. The letter highlights the following the three demands:
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A bigger agriculture budget which is able to provide the financial support and reassurance urgently needed to help farmers transition to more sustainable farming practices
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A Horticulture Strategy for England to increase domestic fruit and vegetable production for public health, climate resilience and UK food security
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An ambitious New Entrant Support Scheme to inspire, train and support a new generation of farmers and landworkers onto the land
Organise or attend a local hustings using our General Election Hustings Toolkit
Hustings are a really great way for us to meet our local candidates, learn more about their positions and policies, and get them to make important commitments on food, farming and land-use ahead of election day.
If you’re thinking of attending a local hustings (please do!) or if you want to organise one yourself (there’s still time!) then this toolkit is for you, it includes:
🗓️ Find your local hustings
🌾 How to organise your own food, farming and land-use hustings
🤚 Example questions to ask candidates
Check our Campaign Toolkit for more ways to advocate for agroecology and food sovereignty in the run up to the General Election.
Click ‘See board’ to access.
