NFU opinion column from Liz Tree

How does a girl who grew up in Croydon come to work in the farming industry?

This is a question I am often asked and it may not be the obvious career path for someone from South London.

My passion for farming began after a chance encounter saw me helping out on a sheep farm while on holiday in the Brecon Beacons when I was a teenager.

I was excited to see the animals and asked the local farmer if I could help out.

I spent most of the rest of that holiday working on the farm.

This might not be everyone’s idea of a perfect holiday but, for me, it was the most amazing time.

These days opened my eyes to my love of farming and changed my life.

Then, when I was 17, I got a job at the closest farm to my parents’ house in Croydon.

I went on to get a degree in Agriculture at Harper Adams University, then a Masters degree in Agricultural Education.

I also became an NFU Student and Young Farmer Ambassador. This is a fantastic project, giving young people a voice in the future of the farming industry.

I really enjoyed the experience – attending the NFU National Conference in Birmingham and parading through London at the Lord Mayor’s Show – were amongst the highlights.

 Now aged 25, I work in the farming industry doing a I job I love.

I work for Harper Adams University, as Morrisons Farm Network Project Manager for the School of Sustainable Food and Farming.

This sees me work with Morrisons and farmers to help the company become net zero in its direct farming supply by 2030.

I am regularly back in Croydon and am passionate about helping children in London to learn about farming and to have the amazing opportunities I have had.

As part of this, I feel it is important for people of all ages in urban areas to value the importance of farming.

So why should people in London care?

For one, London’s food, retail and hospitality sector is vital to the city’s economy. This is underpinned by farming.

Farming provides more than 45,500 jobs in London and the South East and contributes more than £813m to the economy of these areas. 

In addition, as many Londoners continue to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, farming’s ability to provide affordable, climate friendly and high welfare food is critical.

British farmers and growers produce some of the highest quality, environmentally friendly food in the world and work hard to look after the countryside many of us love to visit. 

To enable all of this to continue, farmers need the new government to prioritise setting an increased multi-year agriculture budget for the duration of the next Parliament. This isn’t just ‘money for farmers’. It’s funding that will give farmers the confidence to invest for the future and help make the government’s aims around sustainable food production, food security, the environment and net zero possible.

We need London’s MPs to get out and meet with farmers and fully understand the challenges they are facing.

The government must commit to establishing core production standards, so the food and drink produced in this country is not undercut by imports produced to standards that would be deemed illegal here.

A secure and resilient supply of homegrown food can only be built on a fair and transparent supply chain that shares the risks involved in food production evenly and gives farmers confidence. Amending the Grocery Supply Code of Practice so more food retailers and businesses fall under the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator is a key step to achieving this.

The new government can also show its commitment to food security by being alert to the risk and impact of disease, particularly bovine TB, as we work towards the government’s target to eradicate this terrible disease by 2038.

As the custodians of our great British countryside, farmers share the new government’s ambition to improve the environment and farmers are at the forefront of delivering new legislated environment targets. 

They need to continue to adapt and make improvements on their farms to support plans to tackle water quality and to mitigate the devastating impact of flooding. All of these actions will need proper investment and plans developed with those managing the land.

Securing a bright future for the British farming industry will be for the good of everyone, including the people of London.

This will also ensure children who find a passion for farming, as I did, will have the opportunities to find their own paths in this amazing industry. 

Liz Tree grew up in Croydon and works for the School of Sustainable Food and Farming at Harper Adams University as Morrisons Farm Network Manager.

She is a former Student and Young Farmer Ambassador for the National Farmers’ Union.

Thursday, July 18