04/09/21 - Farming Today This Week: The Trade and Agriculture Commission, staff shortages and food waste

Farming Today

• Episode: 04/09/21 - Farming Today This Week: The Trade and Agriculture Commission, staff shortages and food waste
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:24:49
• Published: 2021-09-04 08:00

The former head of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, Tim Smith, says he "can’t think of a single coherent reason" why the Government still hasn’t responded to its report or set up the statutory body which was to replace it. The Trade and Agriculture Commission was created last summer to advise Ministers on trade deals, after concerns that giving tariff free access to our markets could undermine UK farming and food businesses. Its report, with 22 recommendations, was published in March - at which point it was disbanded to be replaced with a new commission which would examine future trade agreements. But the new TAC hasn’t yet appeared. Fruit and veg farmers could increase their profits by 20% by getting to grips with how much of their crop is going to waste and why. We hear how robots could be part of the solution. And, staff shortages in the food chain are causing serious problems farmers and food companies. A cross-industry report says the cause is a combination of post-Brexit immigration rules and Covid-19. We hear from a poultry producer who is struggling and a raspberry farm that's giving fruit away for free to those who can pick it. Presented by Charlotte Smith Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons