Bittersweet Brexit: The Future of Food, Farming, Land and Labour

by Charlie Clutterbuck

Although widely criticised and hugely wasteful, The Common Agricultural Policy did at least afford British farmers a degree of support. Post-Brexit, that support will vanish - to be replaced with a woefully misconceived agricultural export drive that cannot possibly deliver. Bittersweet Brexit suggests a paying workers decent wages in the agricultural sector could radically transform the nature of farming in Britain. It would improve yields, increase sustainability and ensure greater self-sufficiency at a time when food security is becoming a vital issue. This scenario provides a progressive, forward-thinking and optimistic future for food and farming in Britain, which, unlike many other industries, is currently being ignored.

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2017

Reviews

[Bob Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is balanced, describing the pro's and con's of remaining in the EU or BrExit (which at the time of writing has still not happened). If we do leave the EU with a Norway type deal we would be outside the common agricultural policy but maintaining the same food, phyto-sanitary and animal welfare standards as the EU. We should be able to maintain tariff free exports and imports providing we don't give farmers unfair subsidies.
The big problem with the Common Agricultural Policy is that we pay farmers for owning land, not for producing food. Clutterbuck's solution is to subsidise the people working on the land. The Duke of Bucclleugh would get a similar payment to a crofter on his estate. It is an idea which needs to be explored.

[Freddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly compelling and very informative. I learnt a lot about farming, its recent history, and its pressing concerns from this.