A LEADING rural business organisation has put the case for "evolution, not revolution" in Britain's food production industry.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) presented its case to the Independent Policy Commission on Food and Farming when the commission visited the West Midlands.

The commission was set up by the Government in response to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The CLA presented a comprehensive submission to the commission containing recommendations on improved profitability for food and farming businesses, enabling farming businesses to better meet consumer demands, increasing the flexibility of rural businesses and encouraging new enterprise in the countryside.

Upside down

CLA regional surveyor, Caroline Bedell, said it was not about "turning the way we produce food upside down".

"The foot-and-mouth crisis highlights the need to review the whole rural economy and not only food and farming," said Ms Bedell.

"We argue the current contraction of the sector is not in the national interest and any rethink of food and farming which does not take account of the fundamental factors will simply not work."

She said the challenge was to first restore profitability to the sector and the commission needed a clear idea of how to restore "economic sustainability".

"If it can't persuade the men and women who produce our food and manage our landscape, there will be no progress," she said.

"Ours is a farmed landscape and the public expects food production to continue to be the central activity in the countryside."