Speaking at a Hasbro farm forum in Lanarkshire, Mr Pack said the suckler cow scheme recently announced by the Irish was one example of re-coupling.

“One thing I think will change our agricultural environment is the fact that Europe has lost sight of the fact that food production is key to our society.

“We are now down to about 90% self-sufficient in beef in Europe but I'm quite sure the politicians making the policy still believe we have beef mountains. They have lost track of the fact that production right across Europe has reduced,” said Mr Pack.

Defra had, he said, jumped onto the ‘one-planet’ bandwagon, focused on climate change and environmental measures but he said he was sure sustainable food supply would soon come in there bringing dramatic change.

Source: Farmers Weekly