Fertile Ground: Opportunities and Challenges for UK Agriculture

Abstract

This paper examines the current state of UK agriculture and argues that the goals of an Independent UK Agricultural Policy should include: to provide affordable food for consumers, to support farmers so that they can be competitive in domestic and global markets, and to preserve the UK’s agricultural traditions and environment. To achieve these goals following Brexit, the paper recommends making the most of leaving the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) by moving away from the Common External Tariff (CET), and amber box production subsidies. Furthermore, a more positive approach to new technologies, allowing farmers to innovate and move away from environmentally degrading old technologies, should be pursued. The paper further discusses ways in which transition to a new UK agricultural policy can be made in a manner that is least disruptive for existing producers, including through the use of transitional grants and a gradual phasing out of certain subsidies. The paper recommends that the UK exit with a that includes a transition perio to allow continued support, while new policies are implemented. However, in the event of a no deal exit, certain necessary steps that the UK could take to protect consumers are discussed. These include the removal of all tariff and quota restrictions on a number of foodstuffs which the UK does not produce, as well as opening tariff rate quotas up erga omnes to allow competition from efficient global producers, especially for the beef and dairy sectors.