Farmers on the Shotley peninsula have reacted with dismay at reports made by a senior government advisor that farmers were not important to the UK economy.

Dr Tim Leunig claimed in emails revealed by the Mail on Sunday, that the agriculture and fishing industries make a negligible contribution to the economy, and pointed out former British outpost Singapore 'is rich without having its own agricultural sector.

In his controversial comments, Dr Leunig also suggested the UK should import all its food and farmers should not be given tax breaks, which are denied to other industries.

Dr Leunig, is a senior economic adviser to new Chancellor Rishi Sunak who last week appointed South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge as a Parliamentary Permanent Secretary.

In personal emails sent to colleagues at the National Food Strategy, the Government's wholesale review of the British food system, Dr Leunig said: "(The) food sector isn't critically important to the UK, and agriculture and fish production certainly isn't."

Dr Leunig pointed to figures suggesting agriculture and fishing adds just 0.5 per cent in extra value to the economy and added: "All I am saying is that, as a logical possibility, a nation (or region) can import stuff. We see that in many places for many goods and services.

"Singapore imports (almost) all its food, Germany all its oil, Japan all its planes and all its oil, Australia and New Zealand import all their cars, all their planes and all their oil, while Iceland imports oil, cars, planes and graduate-level education."

But farmers on the peninsula, who have worked the land here since at least the 1800s, argued the doctor's comments were out of step with the reality of the nation's agricultural sector.

Phil Colwill, an arable farmer who also breeds sheep, succinctly said: "The comments are an insult to the hard-working farmers of the entire country."

William Wrinch, who is a sixth generation farmer on the peninsula, owns Ness Farm in Erwarton and has experience of Singapore.

He said: "The gist of his advice is we could be like Singapore and import all our own food but they have very little space to grow the stuff anyway. I have been there twice in my lifetime it is just an island city.

 

"Obviously if all the food is imported then can we turn the Shotley Peninsular in to one big caravan park plus a leisure centre or two?

"It could become like Singapore and have skyscrapers built all over the place, one would also need extra port space for the many millions of tonnes of food coming into the country, Erwarton Ness would fit that bill nicely.

 

"Seriously though, I it would not be politically expedient to rely on outside sources for our food supply, we were nearly starved to death in the second World War and the country's population has increased vastly since then.

 

"There are individuals that at times moan about farmers and the way they treat the countryside but I think they would soon moan about an unfarmed rural Britain.

  

"In conclusion, I feel as a country we have too many imports as it is, and we actually have more scope for growing more of our own food not less."

Geoff Mayhew, whose brother Phil Mayhew, is also a farmer on the peninsula, and is heavily involved in farming in the community initiatives.

He said: "As we move into a highly-charged period of Climatic debate centred round global warming, I am astounded at the naivety of the senior economic advisor on matters of food and environmental impact.

"Exporting our Agricultural Production to other less sustainable parts of the World would be a Crime based purely on financial greed.

"Here on The Shotley Peninsular I am lucky enough to farm one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, employing up to 12 local people at busy times, with a hard core of six of us all year.

"We supply local shops as well as Multiples, are LEAF Audited and take great pride in our Farming in the Community. 

"Sadly, we have been involved in a race to the bottom on food price over the decades, regardless of the cost to The Planet.

Within a relatively short period of time we have seen worldwide soil degradation and wildlife impacted by intensive Agricultural practices.

"Happily, British Agriculture is bucking the trend, and with a new Agricultural Bill looming, I am confident we can create a more sustainable, efficient Agricultural Sector moving forward. 

"We are, even now, way more environmentally proactive than many of the major food producing areas of the world, from where Our Senior Economic Advisor feels it would be financially prudent to source our food.  

"I would urge our SEA to the chancellor to read the works of Adrian Bell, who wrote prolifically about agricultural trends from the '20s to the '80s, highlighting the dangers of government intervention in agriculture hell bent on productivity while driving down the price of food at both the expense of the environment and the rural community.

"Adrian Bell, way back then, saw the importance of the social connection between growing our own food and connecting with the environment for general health and wellbeing.

Richard Wrinch warned what could happen if farming were to be phased out, or stopped altogether.

He said: "Farming has shaped the landscape in this country for the past 2,000 years.  Where would this go if we were not farming? 

"No livestock to graze grass.  No fields no hedges, rewilding would be a done job and it would look a mixture within a short length of time, of scrub and woodland, which would certainly please some people but would significantly worry others.  The food story is much more complex.  But potentially much more damaging in terms of the environment, and cost of each unit of food. 

"There seem to be two suggestions: "One that we import all our food, and two that we go into vertical farming and produce it in urban areas in high rise factories with artificial light, water and any chemical fertilizers."

Richard also questioned the sense in adding to the air miles which would be incurred by increasing imports.

 

He said: "The carbon footprint is frightening.  Think of a bulky crop like potatoes.  Importing the 100's of 1000's of tonnes of potatoes that are eaten in this country would leave a significant carbon footprint.

"The standards of production in other countries may well be lower than our own and we would have no control on them.  Often the human damage in third world countries, where food is grown and then exported, at times leaving the indigenous population hungry, must surely be unforgivable?

  

"My hope is that high quality traceable food with a low carbon footprint will continue to be produced in this country.  Yes, we must work at using less chemicals (fertilizer and pesticides) continue to work on our welfare for livestock and look after the environment."

Minette Batters, president of the National Union of Farmers, refuted suggestions the UK could copy nations such as Singapore and import all its food.

She said: "Singapore has five million people, and doesn't have any farmed landscape so it actually has to import all its food.

"Here, 75% of Britain is a farmed landscape, we have a fantastic maritime climate in which to produce our food, and we have 60 million-plus people here to feed so there's a sort of moral imperative, if you like, for us to be able to produce food in this country."

MP James Cartlidge was given the opportunity to distance himself from Dr Leunig's comments and defend Shotley peninsula farmers but has not responded to a request by Nub News to make a statement.

An associate professor at the London School of Economics, who holds advisory positions in the education and environment departments, r Leunig also questioned the special tax breaks given to farmers.

He said: 'We know that supermarkets also make very little, and that lots of restaurants go bust.

'Not sure I buy a 'life is tough for farmers, easy for restaurateurs' approach."

William Wrinch responded: "It was also mentioned about farmers receiving Government money, nearly every country in the world subsidies their agriculture in one form or another and many to a far greater degree than this country. One can also argue that the consumer is being subsidised as food prices would tend to rise without Government intervention.

Richard added: "As to the taxation breaks, I believe they are important to farming. It could be argued that no industry should be treated differently but we do, in my view, have more controls thrust on us about how we produce food and our factory floor is completely open to the elements of which we have no control, therefore, to help us maintain production in difficult times, they are important."

And Geoff Mayhew called on the government, to invest more into educating the public about farming, and the benefits it gives the UK economy and climate.

He said: "When I visit Schools as part of our Suffolk Agricultural Association Initiative on education in schools, I am astounded by the disconnect between both teachers and the children, on where their food comes from and the lack of realisation that their choices whilst out shopping are causing serious harm to the planet .

"To sum up, we need a thriving, sustainable Uk Agricultural Industry to provide healthy UK  produced food with a net zero carbon footprint.

"The government needs to be educating all to embrace the cultural of buying British, with an emphasis on seasonality to avoid unnecessary imports of climate sensitive products.

"In answer to the Singapore question; the agri-food and veterinary authority of Singapore are actively promoting more agricultural production.

"AVA has also ensured increased local food production over time through the provision of the Food Fund. Investments in new farming techniques such as hydroponics have contributed to a 30 percent increase in local vegetable production over the past 10 years."