Agriculture in the UK – its Role and Challenge A Discussion Paper by John Marsh

Prepared for the Food Chain and Crops for Industry Panel September 2001

Agriculture in the UK - its Role and Challenge

Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction – what this report is about ................................4 Chapter 2 The present state of the industry ..............................................7
The Place of Agriculture in the Economy........................................................7 Agriculture in the Food Chain......................................................................16 The UK Food Chain ...................................................................................19 Agriculture in the rural economy .................................................................22 Agriculture and the environment. ................................................................24

Chapter 3 The changing relationship between the State and the Farmer ............................................................27
From support to restriction. .......................................................................27 From supply driven to market led................................................................33 From food production to public goods – a shift in the logic of support. .........37

Chapter 4 What are the opportunities for British Farming? ..............40
The growing importance of the international market.....................................42 The potential of new technology .................................................................46 The importance of non-market values .........................................................50 The opportunities for UK farming................................................................55 Types of farming strategy...........................................................................57

Chapter 5 Scenarios for a Competitive Agriculture ...............................59
Policy