The EU is getting it right on food – and the UK is not!

It has brought about a return to basics, with the farm commissioner, Janusz Wokschzski, reminding farm ministers that food security and the CAP were key drivers when the EEC was created with six member states.

The events in Ukraine threaten not only European food security, but affordability and these comments open up another huge gap between EU and post-Brexit UK thinking.

London should view food security in the same way, but it is still too busy with self-congratulation for achieving Brexit to recognise that the EU has a valid point. Having criticised the CAP for many years, it is witnessing why a coherent food security policy makes sense.

The foundations of the EEC were rooted in recovery from World War 2. It was born out of attempts to stabilise supplies of coal and steel to get industry going again and it was a natural step from that to include agriculture in a new common policy.

Food shortages were well remembered and while the result was a massive over-correction, in time that led to production excesses, Ukraine underlines how hard it is to get policy right.

'Food shortages are well remembered and while the result was a massive over-correction that led to production excesses, Ukraine underlines how hard it is to get policy right'

However, there is a growing sense that the EU has eased back on the green pressure button to put food security much higher on its agenda. The UK, post-Brexit, wanted clear blue water between it and Brussels, but when it comes to agriculture that is not delivering the right outcomes for farmers, consumers or the short and long term security of the nation's food supply.

Things happen in politics that underline that change has happened. When discussing a new EU system to reward farmers for reducing carbon output, farm ministers underlined how their thinking had changed over food security.

Discussing this plan and the changes in agricultural production it might bring about there was some sound thinking around catch crops, protein crops, agro-forestry and permanent pasture as ways to minimise carbon output and lock up atmospheric carbon. It was deemed sensible to reward farmers via the CAP for doing so, but there was a critical message from ministers that demonstrated how much thinking has changed.

They said the primary aim of the CAP was to deliver food security. That is a huge leap from the position when that was seen as secondary to the delivery of green outcomes.

It was prompted by real concerns that food price affordability is now an issue. It is always welcome when politicians acknowledge the error of their ways, but doing so is clearly not on the UK government's agenda.

Here, politicians cannot even acknowledge the depth of hurt and frustration people feel over its 'Partygate' antics, let alone admit over food security and food sovereignty that the EU is getting it right, while the UK has got priorities wrong.

The big difference between the UK and EU is that Brussels has the data needed to make policy decisions about food. This is based around short, medium and long term market forecasts.

'Politicians cannot even acknowledge the depth of hurt and frustration people feel over its 'Partygate' antics, let alone admit over food security and food sovereignty that the EU is getting it right'

Being able to compile and use this information is about scale and in a global context the UK is simply too small, since nothing it does will have an impact on markets and prices. That said, the government would be wise to heed what EU reports are saying and to recognise that the latest short-term forecasts feed into concerns about food security.

Daily we hear reports of shortages and of production collapsing on farms because of costs, lack of profitability and lack of labour. Without figures, the government cannot enter that debate or offer reassurance.

Those forecasts from the EU show grain production on course for record levels, thanks to more land being brought into production. They also show the EU will be in a position to remain an exporter and that while prices will increase to levels that will cause pain to consumers, they may not cover rising costs.

The same applies to other arable crops – while dairy prices will rise to reflect higher costs and lower cow numbers, they likely won't to the degree that milk shortages are likely. Not surprisingly pig and poultry enterprises are under pressure.

Seemingly – always the Cinderella – despite higher beef prices, the EU said beef production will fall again this year. Not an appetising prospect, but at least the EU has the data and the facts to make judgements about food security and where it should sit in terms of political priorities.