BASILDON MP Stephen Metcalfe has today (Wednesday, 15 September) shown support for British food and farming on Back British Farming Day, recognising the crucial role farmers in his South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency play in producing food for the nation.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) provided MPs with the emblem of the day - a wool and wheatsheaf pin badge – to enable them to join the celebration of British agriculture. Food and farming are key business sectors, worth more than £120 billion to the national economy and providing jobs for almost four million people.

The NFU chose the day to launch a new report which asks for Government to complete a comprehensive report on UK food security later this year, covering the country's production of key foods and its contribution to global food security. This would be the first meaningful assessment of UK food security in over a decade and the first under the requirements of the Agriculture Act that mandate reporting every three years.

Mr Metcalfe said: "I'm proud to wear a Back British Farming pin badge today to show my support for Britain's fantastic farmers and growers here in South Basildon and East Thurrock. The day presents a great opportunity to thank the farmers who feed us, as well as take care of our countryside and maintain our iconic British landscapes.

"I support the Back British Farming campaign which is asking us all to value British food. I will be calling on Government to adopt agricultural policies that ensure local farming can thrive and ensure our self-sufficiency does not fall below its current level of 60 per cent, alongside a greater ambition in promoting British food at home and abroad to aid UK food security."