The Strategy sets out the Government's vision for the future for the farming and food industries and charges the regions with the task of developing the national framework into regional implementation plans that deliver real change at a local level.
Advantage West Midlands developed the Regional Food and Drink Cluster Strategy that sets out a vision for the food and drink industry in the region. This is underpinned by the regional Delivery Plan that takes forward the combined proposals of both the Regional Food and Drink Cluster Strategy and those elements of the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food that can be delivered regionally.
Farming in the West Midlands
Farming across the West Midlands varies from the domination of livestock farming in the rural west to intensive arable farming in Warwickshire and parts of Shropshire.
The West Midlands Rural Economy has traditionally relied heavily on the land based sector, particularly agriculture. Whilst agriculture is still responsible for the management of around 70% of the land area in the Region, the industry’s contribution to Regional GDP has been in decline and is likely to diminish further. However, the diversity of the industry across the Region and its contribution to the environment is still important.
Farming headlines for the Region:
- Over 950,000 hectares of land are used for agriculture in the West Midlands, accounting for over 70% of land use in the region.
- There are nearly 26,000 farms in the region; 42 per cent of these are small farms of less than 5 hectares.
- 72% of the agricultural land is owner occupied.
- The contribution of the land-based sectors to the headline GVA of the West Midlands was £952 million in 2004.
- 46,716 people are employed in full or part time roles on farm holdings - 2% of the Region's total labour force.
- There are over 900,000 breeding sheep, 760,000 cattle, 226,000 pigs and 9,000 goats on West Midlands farms.
- Organic production is a strength of the region with 7.8% of all UK organic producers.
- Horticulture, including soft fruit and top fruit production, is located on the high quality soils of Worcestershire, parts of Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
- Around 30% of the region's cattle and 28% of pigs are on farms in Staffordshire.
- Around 29% of the region's sheep, 39% of potato growing area, and 18% of cereal growing area are in Herefordshire.
- Herefordshire also retains its reputation as a centre of excellence for orchard crops.
Animal Health and Welfare Strategy:(AHWS)
The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) was published in 2004 . It set out a vision for the future , ten years hence, seeking to achieve standards of animal health and welfare that are consistent with modern society values and reflect public health , economy and environment issues.
Partnership working is one of five strategic outcomes and essential to realisation of the vision. In the West Midlands during the last year , the Animal Health agency has focussed on strengthening and amplifying its links with key partners and stakeholders, in particular Government Office for the West Midlands and Advantage West Midlands, although some prioritised diversion of resources has been essential to support control of major exotic disease incidents elsewhere. Whilst emergency planning remains a priority , the advent of the Rural Development Plan for England (RDPE) and integration of AHWS into a revision of the existing Sustainable Strategy for Food and Farming has provided a new opportunity to advocate and support initiatives directed towards the strategy goals.
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