One of Europe's leading feed industry analyst has said that farmers must be allowed to make a margin commensurate with the absolute necessity of meeting animals' welfare needs.
Speaking at this week's Alltech International Sympos-ium in Kentucky, Dr Elinor McCartney (pictured), a Scottish vet and EU legal commentator who is now based in Spain, went on to confirm that the days of cheap food are over.
She added: "The superma
rkets used to tell us that consumers would not tolerate significant increases in retail food prices. However, in the wake of the biofuels explosion and the dramatic increase in feed prices, retailers have passed on these enhanced costs in full and without hesitation.
"So there is no reason why Europe's farming industry cannot now stake a claim to have their case for fair and equitable returns made reality.
"And consumers can afford to pay for good food and improved animal welfare. The figures are already out there to prove this. In the years directly following World War II, 60 per cent of family income went on food bills. Today the figure is in the range five to ten per cent."
Elinor McCartney also stressed the need for Europe to retain a viable agri food industry.
"The risks associated in becoming too dependent on imports from South America are just too great," she explained
"The economies of India and China are growing at a phenomenally fast rate, as are their populations.
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