Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy – one year on

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Originally from – http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2003/sffs-oneyear.htm
 
 
Today marks the one year anniversary of the launch of Defra's flagship 'Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy', during which the building blocks have been established to help deliver the government's strategy for a sustainable future.

Over the past year, much progress has been made towards a more profitable, diverse, competitive and environmentally-sensitive farming and food industry.

The major milestones reached so far include:

Radical reform of CAP agreed
Successful lauch of pilots for new entry-level agri-environment scheme to enable decisions on national roll-out in 2005 Establishment of the Food Chain Centre, English Food and Farming Partnership and the Red Meat Industry Forum Network of pilot demonstration farms up and running
£5m in Agricultural Development Scheme grants awarded
Animal Health and Welfare Outline Strategy launched
Good progress made on Assured Food Standards and the Red Tractor logo Whole farm appraisal pilot under way
Regional delivery plans drawn up
Haskins report on service report published
 
Lord Whitty, the minister for food and farming, welcomed the achievements of the last twelve months.

"I have been delighted by the enthusiasm with which the government's intiatives have been received – in particular, uptake for the pilot entry level scheme has exceeded expectations, the efforts of the new bodies working to revitalise the food chain, and the interest in farmers developing their businesses by visiting demonstration farms and signing up for business advice."

The minister also praised the deal secured on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), saying that it was "better than we could have hoped in paving the way for a sustainable future for the food and farming sector".

Looking forward, Lord Whitty said, "We must build on this success during the coming year in terms of translating the agreement into a 'new start for farming' on 1 January 2005."

Sir Don Curry, chairman of the SFFS implementation group, said that "The challenge is for the food and farming sector to operate commercially and profitably in a decoupled world while satisfying the expectations of the taxpayer."