In these testing and volatile times, little is more important than tackling the global climate and nature crises and securing the nation’s long-term health and wellbeing.
The UK must not use future trade deals to offshore its climate and nature commitments to countries with fewer resources and weaker environmental standards.
The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission has written to the Secretaries of State in Defra, International Trade, Health, Business, and International Development, as well as the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, to urge them to work together to weigh up carefully the wide-ranging implications of the trade decisions they take.
The breadth of signatories demonstrates how important this is to so many people across food and farming, environment and countryside. The 100 plus signatories include:
- Business figures including chief executive of Waitrose, Rob Collins; Andrew Selley, chief executive of Bidfood; and Judith Batchelar, director of brand at Sainsbury’s
- Leading environmentalists including Natural England chair, Tony Juniper; chair of the Environment Agency, Emma Howard-Boyd; Friends of the Earth’s CEO, Craig Bennett; and Beccy Speight, CEO of RSPB,
- Campaign groups and NGOs, including Caroline Normand, director of advocacy at Which?; Hilary McGrady, director-general of the National Trust; Crispin Truman, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England; and Lynn Stubbings, President, Women’s Institute.
- Representative bodies including Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers’ Union; Tim Breitmeyer, president of the Country Land and Business Association, Shirley Cramer, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health; Tenant Farmers’ Association chief executive, George Dunn; and Caroline Drummond, CEO of LEAF.
- Food campaigners including Baroness Rosie Boycott, Dee Woods, Food Ethics Council Executive Director, Dan Crossley; and Sustain chief executive, Kath Dalmeny
- Academics from across specialties including professors Tim Jackson, Tim Lang, Janet Dwyer, Tim Benton, Lorna Dawson, Michael Lee, Tom MacMillan and Michael Winter.
Read the full open letter with signatories list below, or view as a PDF here
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27 September 2019
Dear Secretary of State,
In these testing and volatile times, little is more important than tackling the global climate and nature crises and securing the nation’s long-term health and wellbeing.
The RSA’s Food, Farming and Countryside Commission reports, published in July, offer a bold and ambitious, yet realistic and optimistic version of a future which does both. They underscore the clear connections between farming and environmental stewardship; healthy, affordable food and the public’s health and wellbeing; flourishing rural economies and thriving communities. We are delighted to support their ambition.
Above all, they’re a call to action – to governments, businesses and to civic society – and for joined up, resolute leadership for the radical and practical steps needed. The Commission’s 15 recommendations include reversing the decline in the nation’s health and wellbeing with more support for healthy, affordable food, especially British fruit, veg, nuts, fish, meat and dairy from sustainable sources; committing to a workable transition plan for climate and nature friendly farming; providing the resources needed for a just and green transition, including a National Agroecology Investment Bank.
Taken together, they add up to a programme for change on a scale commensurate with the challenges, highlighting areas where people in different sectors, walks of life and political parties can find common ground.
A pre-requisite for this progressive agenda, and all the benefits it will bring, is a level playing field in whatever trading environment follows. The risks to citizens, rural communities, food and farming businesses are immense if we rush into the wrong trade deals after Brexit. UK Governments have established their ambitions to be world leading in environmental performance; this cannot be achieved by offshoring our responsibilities to countries who have less capacity, fewer resources or lower standards than we do.
The Commission has described a compelling future, which we all want to help happen. Its work was showcased at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Let’s not undermine this opportunity to demonstrate strong UK leadership to invest in a more sustainable future, through pressures to do trade deals, at any cost.
Yours faithfully,
Sir Ian Cheshire
Chair, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission & Chairman, Barclays Bank UK
and,
|
Andrew Selley |
Commissioner. Chief Executive, Bidfood |
|
Ann Jones |
Commissioner. Vice Chair, National Federation of Women's Institutes |
|
Baroness Barbara Young |
Commissioner. Member of the House of Lords and Chair, Woodland Trust |
|
David Fursdon |
Commissioner. Chair, Future of Farming Review |
|
Prof. David Hill CBE |
Commissioner. Chairman, The Environment Bank |
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Dr David Pencheon |
Commissioner. Honorary Professor, Health and Sustainable Development, University of Exeter |
|
Dame Fiona Reynolds |
Commissioner. Master, Emmanuel College, Cambridge |
|
Helen Browning OBE |
Commissioner. Chief Executive, Soil Association |
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Judith Batchelar OBE |
Commissioner. Director, Sainsbury's Brand |
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Kath Dalmeny |
Commissioner. Chief Executive, Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming |
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Shirley Cramer CBE |
Commissioner. Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health |
|
Sue Pritchard |
Commissioner. Director, The RSA Food, Farming and Countryside Commission |
|
Prof. Tim Jackson |
Commissioner. Director, Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity, University of Surrey |
|
Ufi Ibrahim |
Commissioner. Chairman, Hotels Energy Board |
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Andrew Lazenby |
CEO, Royal Agricultural Society of England and Innovation for Agriculture |
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Andrew Stephen |
CEO, Sustainable Restaurant Association |
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Anna Taylor |
Executive Director, Food Foundation |
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Anna van der Hurd |
CEO, A-Team Foundation |
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Ben Goldsmith |
CEO, Menhaden |
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Benet Northcote |
Board Member, Conservative Environment Network |
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Bevis Watts |
CEO, Triodos Bank UK |
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Caroline Drummond MBE |
CEO, LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) |
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Caroline Mason CBE |
CEO, The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation |
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Caroline Normand |
Director of Advocacy, Which? |
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Chris Sherwood |
Chief Executive, RSPCA |
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Christopher Price |
Chief Executive, Rare Breeds Survival Trust |
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Christopher Stopes |
Chair, English Organic Forum |
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Corinne Pluchino |
Chief Executive, Campaign for National Parks |
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Craig Bennett |
CEO, Friends of the Earth |
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Crispin Truman |
Chief Executive, Campaign to Protect Rural England |
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Dan Crossley |
Executive Director, Food Ethics Council |
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Dan Parker |
Director, Veg Power |
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Prof. David Barling |
Director, Centre for Agriculture, Food and Environmental Management, University of Hertfordshire |
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David Read |
Chairman, Prestige Purchasing |
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Dee Woods |
Food and climate justice activist |
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Dennis Overton OBE |
Chair, Scotland Food and Drink |
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Lord Curry of Kirkhale |
Member of the House of Lords, Chair, Food and Farming Futures |
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Ed Davey |
Author, Given Half A Chance: Ten Ways to Save the World |
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Prof. Elizabeth Dowler |
Professor of Food and Social Policy, University of Warwick |
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Ellen Fay |
Executive Director, Sustainable Soils Alliance |
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Emma Howard-Boyd |
Chair, Environment Agency |
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Prof. Erik Millstone |
Professor of Science Policy, University of Sussex |
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Ffinlo Costain |
Chief Executive, Farmwel |
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Fiona Howie |
CEO, Town and Country Planning Association |
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Gabriel Kaye |
Director, Biodynamic Land Trust |
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Dr Gabriel Scally |
Chair, Soil Association |
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George Dunn |
Chief Executive, Tenant Farmers Association and TFA Cymru |
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Grace Yu, Sarah Butler Sloss, Claire Birch |
Trustees, The Ashden Trust |
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Graham Biggs MBE |
Chief Executive, Rural Services Network |
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Sir Graham Wynne |
World Resources Institute Distinguished Fellow |
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Greg Parston |
Chair, The Dartington Hall Trust |
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Heather Peck |
Chair, Lantra |
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Hilary McGrady |
Director General, The National Trust |
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Prof. Ian Bateman OBE |
Professor of Environmental Economics at the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute, University of Exeter |
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James Bielby |
CEO, Federation of Wholesale Distributors |
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Dr Jane Davidson |
Pro Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement and Sustainability, University of Wales Trinity Saint David |
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Prof. Janet Dwyer |
Professor of Rural Policy, University of Gloucestershire |
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Prof. Joanna Price |
Vice-Chancellor, Royal Agricultural University |
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John Davies |
President, NFU Cymru |
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John Woods |
Consultant, Public Policy Synthesis |
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Julia Aglionby |
Executive Director, Foundation for Common Land |
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Kate Ashbrook |
General Secretary, Open Spaces Society |
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Keith Tyrell |
Director, Pesticide Action Network UK |
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Kristin Bash |
Lecturer in Public Health, University of Sheffield |
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Prof. Lorna Dawson |
Head of Soil Forensics, The James Hutton Institute |
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Lynne Stubbings |
Chair, National Federation of Women's Institutes |
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Prof. Maggie Rae |
President, Faculty of Public Health |
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Margaret Clark |
Chair, Plunkett Foundation |
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Mark Sainsbury |
Co-owner, The Zetter Group |
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Martin Lines |
UK Chair, Nature Friendly Farming Network |
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Mat Roberts |
CEO, Shetland Amenity Trust |
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Prof. Matt Lobley |
Director, Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter |
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Matthew Naylor |
Managing Director, Naylor Flowers and Farmers Weekly Columnist |
|
Matthew Taylor |
Chief Executive, The RSA |
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Prof. Michael Lee |
Head of Sustainable Agricultural Sciences, Rothamsted Research |
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Prof. Michael Winter OBE |
Professor of Land Economy and Society, University of Exeter |
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Prof. Mike Berners-Lee |
Lancaster Environment Centre, University of Lancaster |
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Minette Batters |
President, National Farmers Union |
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Nicola Close |
Chief Executive, Association of Directors of Public Health |
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Pam Warhurst CBE |
Chair, Incredible Edible |
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Patrick Casement |
Chair, Northern Ireland Environment Link |
|
Patrick Holden CBE |
Chief Executive, Sustainable Food Trust |
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Peter Ainsworth |
Chair, The Heritage Alliance |
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Philip Lymbery |
CEO, Compassion in World Farming |
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Rebecca Speight |
Chief Executive, RSPB |
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Rob Collins |
Chief Executive, Waitrose |
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Robin Stott |
Co-chair, Climate and Health Alliance |
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Roger Kerr |
CEO, Organic Farmers and Growers CIC |
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Roland Bonney |
COO, Benchmark Holdings plc |
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Baroness Rosie Boycott |
Member of the House of Lords and food campaigner |
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Sally Uren |
Chief Executive, Forum for the Future |
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Shaun Spiers |
CEO, Green Alliance |
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Simon Wright |
Founder, Wright's Food Emporium |
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Tanya Steele |
CEO, WWF-UK |
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Dr Tara Garnett |
Director, Food Climate Research Network |
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Prof. Tim Benton |
Director, Energy Environment and Resources Department, Chatham House |
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Tim Breitmeyer |
President, Country Land and Business Association |
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Tim Eyles |
Consultant, Taylor Wessing |
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Prof. Tim Lang |
Professor of Food Policy, City, University of London |
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Sir Tim Smit KBE |
CEO, Eden Project |
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Tom Curtis |
Director, 3Keel |
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Prof. Tom MacMillan |
Elizabeth Creak Chair in Rural Policy and Strategy, Royal Agricultural University |
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Tony Greenham |
CEO, South West Mutual |
|
Dr Tony Juniper CBE |
Environmentalist and Chair, Natural England |
|
Lord Victor Adebowale |
Member of the House of Lords and Chief Executive, Turning Point |
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This is a compelling presentation, but it requires an additional component. Although those of us concerned about the UK, the US, and world affairs tend to know our way around the world, most people do not. As we bark at the scary climate change situation, the vast majority of people on earth--adults and children--are unfamiliar the names, people and situations associated with most of the countries on earth. If we are to promote a global society that cares deeply about the world and its people, we should engage in an effort to help everyone to become familiar with the continents, countries, cities, and communities that define our world. This is the first step toward compassion, a necessary step toward the altruism that will, no doubt, become essential for survival.
Huzzah! What about circulating this to the 29,000 Fellows for signature?