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.
GOWM, Advantage West Midlands and regional partners have produced the West
Midlands Sustainable Farming and Food regional food and drink plan, 'West
Midlands Farming and Food 2010/12: Looking to the Future' which will
be available in early 2010. This document is the region’s updated
response to the Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Farming and
Food 2002 and Defra’s The Future of our Farminglaunched in July 2009.
It identifies priority areas behind which regional partners can co-ordinate
or influence delivery activity for the benefit of food and health, farming
and land based sectors.
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 agriculture to the headline GVA of the West
Midlands was £668 million in 2008.
- 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.
Food 2030
Food 2030 is the Government vision of what the food system should look
like in 2030, and how to get there.
The vision for a sustainable and secure food system for 2030 is as
follows:
Consumers are informed, can choose, and afford, healthy, sustainable
food. This demand is met by profitable, competitive, highly
skilled and resilient farming, fishing and food businesses, supported
by first class research and development.
Food is produced, processed and distributed to feed a growing global
population in ways which:
- use global natural resources sustainably,
- enable the continuing provision of the benefits and services that a
healthy natural environment provides,
- promote high standards of animal health and welfare,
- protect food safety,
- make a significant contribution to rural communities, and
- allow us to show global leadership on food sustainability.
Our food security is ensured through strong British agriculture and
international trade links with EU and global partners, which support
developing economies.
The UK has a low carbon food system which is efficient with resources
– any waste is reused, recycled or used for energy
generation.
For more information click on the related links below.
