By Kerry Maxwell, communications manager, British Poultry Council
Understandable concern regarding inheritance tax has brought us to a critical juncture in the dialogue about future-proofing British agrifood. There is a balance to strike between addressing the pressures of tax reform and safeguarding farms crucial to the fabric of British food production.
It seems to me that the change to inheritance tax suggests Government have diagnosed the problem as people using farmland are doing so as a means of avoiding tax, instead of using farmland for farming. Where this is the case, it must be tackled. But there is never going to be a ‘one size fits all’ solution to tax reform. Multiple things can be true at once: tackling abuse of the system is necessary, and so is protecting the viability of family-run farms, crucial to the fabric of local communities.
Ongoing challenges underscore the urgent need for UK to become more self-sufficient, especially since our food security has been repeatedly highlighted as a Government priority. Achieving this requires long-term investment in domestic production. But, given the lack of mind paid to food and drink in plans for a new Industrial Strategy, and now the Treasury’s approach to inheritance tax, I am concerned that the vital role of British agrifood will continue to be side-lined.
If we want to enhance our capacity to produce more food domestically, measures must not pose barriers, but ensure farmers can continue feeding the nation today while investing in the future of their farm.
Honestly, it’s still too early to tell what the implications will be. We’ve arrived at a crossroads where multiple priorities are at play, and, ideally, we would want to support all of them, so I think now it is time to dig in and find a solution (or at the very least reconciliation).
At the heart of this debate is balancing the demands of food security, economic stability, community wellbeing and the sustainability of British food and farming. Understanding that these are all interwoven, and then crafting economic policy that reflects that, ensures we create a strong and sustainable future for British farming and therefore British food security.
Time and time again, we have said food security is a conversation that extends way beyond Defra’s remit alone – and the situation we now face proves it. If food security is national security, that needs to be at the core of all planning. This is as true for the Treasury as it is for any other department. Long term food security will be based on foundations of cross-departmental alignment, ensuring every corner of Government works together to create an environment that allows agri-food to thrive.