Dr Neil Hudson MP met with British Sugar, NFU Sugar and young sugar beet farmers in Parliament to shine a light on the industry before speaking up in Committee on the importance to support our brilliant domestic producers in foreign trade.
Hosted by Alicia Kearns MP, Dr Neil Hudson MP heard about the UK's important sugar beet crop and the 2,300+ British growers delivering 1.2 million tonnes of sugar each year. It is a leading innovator when it comes to sustainable farming and the collaborative approach exemplified by the British Beet Research Organisation's mixed funding research and development programme helping increase yields over the past 15 years.
Yet with increasingly unpredictable weather events and a dynamic international market, Dr Hudson was keen to make sure the industry - and the thousands it employs - can remain resilient for generations to come.
As such, Dr Hudson mentioned the UK's important sugar industry while chairing the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs session on British agriculture in new UK trade deals.
During the EFRA Select Committee hearing Dr Hudson MP asked about the potential impact of trade with Indian allies, negotiations for which are ongoing. He was told by the NFU's Director of Trade and Business Strategy that given Indian Government intervention in their domestic production that "We should not be providing access to sugar that has been found to receive support that UK farmers do not receive."
Speaking afterwards Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"UK sugar beet growers are incredible innovators contributing to our economy, our rural communities and employing thousands. As such, it was a delight to meet with British Sugar, NFU sugar and UK producers to hear more about how we can better support their industry.
"I'm proud to back British sugar beet producers and will look to see what more I can do moving forward to make sure the sector remains resilient."
