Joint release on behalf of NFU Scotland, NFU, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers’ Union
The four UK farming unions have marked a milestone of 50 years of the British Agriculture Bureau (BAB) being established in Brussels, celebrating all it has achieved over the last half-century and its continued support of UK farmers and growers as it builds a new relationship with the European Union (EU).
Over the years the BAB office has helped UK farmers to navigate and adapt to huge changes; from the introduction of direct payments to the end of quotas, embracing new technology and innovation as it came along, adjusting to the introduction of the World Trade Organization, and striving to meet new environmental targets.
To this day, BAB continues to advocate on behalf of its farming members to the European institutions, other European partners and Brussels stakeholders.
Guests joined the UK farming unions to celebrate this work, including MEPs, members of the EU Agriculture Commissioner’s cabinet, the UK ambassadors to the EU and Belgium, and members of the European farming group Copa-Cogeca.
In a joint statement, the UK farming union Presidents said: “Even though the UK has left the EU, it has never been more important for farmers across Europe to work together to tackle the challenges we face on a global scale.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shone a light on the fragility of food systems across the world. There are many countries now confronting the reality of how farmers can continue to feed the world when supply chains are pushed to their limits, input costs are soaring, and climate change is wreaking havoc on harvests.
“But the war has also demonstrated the importance of international unity. Ultimately, if we are to feed 10 billion people by 2050, global food security must be a priority, and this means working together across borders to find solutions.
“The approaches taken by our policy makers may differ, but the ambitions and needs of UK and EU farmers remain aligned – to run efficient, profitable business that produce world-leading, climate-friendly, affordable food for people at home and abroad.
“The BAB team here in Brussels has a huge amount of work ahead, and though the nature of that work is evolving as the UK navigates its new position outside of the EU, we will continue to support members by working with our European colleagues and ensuring that the voice of British farming is heard internationally.”
Notes to editors:
- The four UK farming union Presidents are: NFU President Minette Batters, NFU Cymru President Aled Jones, NFU Scotland President Martin Kennedy, and Ulster Farmers' Union President David Brown.
- The UK Farming Unions first established an office in Brussels in 1972 to represent the interests of UK farmers and growers as the UK joined the then European Economic Community (EEC). Officially known as the British Agriculture Bureau, 50 years later this permanent base in Brussels continues to represent the 70,000 members of the NFU, NFU Scotland, the Ulster Farmers’ Union and NFU Cymru.
- BAB also represents the interests of UK farmers through its membership of Copa-Cogeca which brings together the voices of 22 million European farmers in a combined effort to promote the best interests of the agricultural sector among the EU institutions and other relevant stakeholders. This ensures that the concerns of UK farmers are heard and provides a platform to develop solutions to technical or trade barriers with the EU and beyond.
- A timeline of key BAB events can be found here.
- Read more from the UK farming union Presidents here.
- The UK farming unions held a BBQ event to mark the milestone on Thursday 16 June 2022 at The Thon Hotel EU, Brussels.
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Contact Bob Carruth on 07788 927675