HEREFORD'S Liberal Democrat MP Paul Keetch is calling for a switch in taxpayers' support for farming away from mass food production.
Instead, he has called on shoppers to back so-called "sustainable farming" with a greater emphasis on local produce and rural regeneration.
He says that the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, due within the next fortnight, is an opportunity for the Government to fund the recent recommendations of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming.
"I believe that what most people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire want is a countryside that has environmentally sustainable farming with a diverse business base that covers leisure and tourism as well as food production", he said .
"It is time for us to continue the move from mass food production to high quality and locally produced food. This is what the consumers want. The success of local farmers markets shows this, as well as the huge growth in Organic food.
"The CSR is an ideal time to move to such environmental stewardship and rural business support, so I hope the Government can find the resources from the 2002 Spending Review to fund the Policy Commission's recommendations".
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