NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett has said growth is the main priority for the horticulture sector in 2024.
Speaking as part of a review of the 2023 season, Mr Emmett said that 2023 is a year that has been defined by a growing recognition of the value of the horticulture sector but with a long list of promises that have yet to be delivered.
“The NFU Horticulture Growth Strategy, launched this spring, set an agenda for policy change, both within government and the supply chain, to halt the current decline in production and put the sector on a better footing for growth, he said.
“It landed very well, being a key source of evidence for the No.10 Farm to Fork Summit, the Independent Labour Review, and the House of Lords horticulture inquiry.
The strategy was also directly referenced when Farming Minister Mark Spencer was challenged as to why Defra backtracked from its own promise to write a strategy.
“This is certainly a year where many of our messages have landed, with commitments from the government on labour, supply chains, planning, energy, water, and more. The Independent Labour Review repeated many of our asks, especially on the Seasonal Workers Scheme, and the House of Lords review has amplified our call for greater government investment and political support for the sector,” he added.
Mr Emmett said that before the year was finished, he expected the Defra supply chain review to begin and for Defra to publish its response to the Independent Labour Review, which should set out its plans for the seasonal worker scheme beyond 2024.