Supermarket steps in to help boost UK farmers' efficiency

WAYS of making the British dairy farming and cheese industries more efficient and profitable are to be explored after a Yorkshire supermarket chain threw its backing behind a new project.

Bradford-based Morrisons has joined forces with leading dairy co-operative First Milk to improve sustainability in the British cheese supply chain by focusing on how efficiency can be improved.

The move is part of the Morrisons Farm Programme, a country-wide programme aimed at improving long-term prospects for the British farming industry.

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As part of the scheme Morrisons is developing a network of farmer groups around the country and investing in a range of research projects, covering dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry.

The first step has been to work with a group of dairy farmers in Ayrshire, Scotland, to come up with projects that can boost efficiencies on farm.

Billy Lynch, one of the farmers involved, said: "Like every other dairy farmer, I want to drive efficiency in my business.

"Hopefully, the scope and scale of the projects that we are planning with Morrisons can help take us closer to finding solutions."

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Head of agriculture at Morrisons David Evans said: "No one believes that there are any quick fixes to what are often complex problems, but by working together we can have a far better chance of finding both

short term and long term solutions that can underpin a viable British farming industry."

The news comes in the same week that several brands announced they would be changing their packaging to reflect growing support of the UK farming industry.

Weetabix packs now feature farmers' art and carry the NFU logo following a competition among union members to design artwork for the packaging.

The firm uses British wheat, 90 per cent of which comes

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from farms within a fifty mile radius of its base in Northamptonshire.

ABF's Allied Mills announced that its Sunblest brand is the first UK sliced bread to carry the Assured Food Standards' Red Tractor logo while Cains Lager, based in the North West, added the logo to its Export brand, becoming the first lager to be awarded it.

To obtain the accreditation food must be made only from UK ingredients that have to undergo rigorous independent inspection to ensure they meet the highest standards of hygiene, food safety and quality.

Cains joint managing director Sudarghara Dusanj said: "Consumers are currently weighing up the good value that they demand out of every purchase with great British brands that they know and trust.

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"Assured Food Standards certification is recognition of the fact that we apply the highest standards throughout the brewing process.

"We're very proud to have the first lager to join a very prestigious stable of products which British consumers trust."