Farming reform

The government has published a new strategy setting out a way forward for Britain's food and farming industry. The BBC's environment correspondent Tim Hirsch looks at the main issues.

---

How new are the proposals in this strategy?

We have heard much of it before - it is largely a pull-together of initiatives already announced by ministers aimed at setting British farming on a more secure path in the future.

For instance, a new scheme is being piloted to give farmers greater access to grants to reward practices which help wildlife such as protecting hedgerows.

Also, more support is being given to help farmers convert to organic production.

What are the most significant of the proposed strategy recommendations?

The strategy puts a lot of emphasis on helping farmers compete more effectively in the market without relying on subsidies - policies include more support for farmers to collaborate through co-operatives and so on, giving them greater bargaining power with the supermarkets.

For the future, action is promised on promoting healthy eating and tying that in with agricultural policy, more backing for "energy crops" such as green fuel for power stations, and a system of "farm audits" to give farmers greater incentives to reduce pollution.

If this package of measures works effectively, it should "re-connect" farmers with society, rewarding behaviour which helps the community at large, and moving away from a system which many feel pays out large subsidies for over-production of food, while damaging the environment.

What impact is the strategy likely to have?

That is the big question - critics both on the farming side and from environmental pressure groups are critical of the strategy for being strong on words and weak on concrete proposals.

Farmers do not feel it will significantly reduce the "arm lock" of the supermarkets (Tony Blair's own description), and green groups would like to have seen much more ambitious policies to reduce some of the damage caused by existing practices.

Who is likely to benefit most and why?

If the strategy delivers it will benefit farmers who are prepared to be imaginative in marketing local produce or food which can be labelled as being produced in a responsible way - also those bigger farms best able to compete in a worldwide marketplace without depending on subsidies.

What many doubt is whether it will change things quickly enough to stem to decline of the traditional family farm, and the recent exodus from the industry.