30 April 2021

3 minute read

Europe

The new Farmers Guardian campaign, backed by Prime Minister Johnson, highlights how agriculture and British Farmers can bring the nation together.

The campaign hopes to

• Show that farmers are at the heart of the nation
• Demonstrate how agriculture can tackle climate change
• Dispel myths around food production
• Bring the public and farmers closer together

The new consumer facing campaign launches on 30 April across print, digital and social media channels, #FarmingCan will celebrate and promote what British farming is already doing across 70% of the British Isles, while also highlighting its potential, enthusiasm, and innovative spirit.

Backed by farmers, rural organizations, environmental and consumer groups as well as politicians, celebrities and social media influencers, #FarmingCAN shows what the UK agricultural sector is capable of when given the right tools and political frameworks.

Landing at a time when policy makers are taking decisions that will see the industry go through its biggest shake-up since the Second World War. The campaign will shine a light on UK farmers’ role in producing more food, more efficiently and exporting to more markets, while generating more energy, mitigating climate change, improving biodiversity, water and soil quality; being more inclusive and using its knowledge to help feed and protect the planet.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 

“Our farmers have played a vital role, working day and night, rain or shine, to keep our shelves stocked and the nation fed throughout the pandemic.

“I am proud to back the #FarmingCAN campaign which will shine a light on the enormous contribution they make to our communities and I am determined that now we have left the EU we finally put the interests of our British farmers first.

“The farming community will always have the Government’s full support and together I know we will deliver a bright future for British farming.”

The campaign, which complements Farmers Guardian’s well established 24 Hours in Farming initiative, taking place this year on 5 August, comes at a time when, following the COVID-19 pandemic, public support for British farmers has never been higher.

Minette Batters, National Farmers Union president said:

“This is a great campaign and it highlights the industry’s ability and potential to deliver jobs, green growth and economic prosperity,” she said.

“I think #FarmingCAN will help to inspire political and business ambition to invest in the rural economy, of which agriculture underpins every part.

“It will also showcase what the country really loves about this sector, the culture and the heritage, the ‘green gym’ and the ambition of the extraordinary network of farming businesses, 50% of which are tenanted. That is a great national attribute.”

What is #FarmingCAN?

Over the next 12 months, #FarmingCAN will distill real-life farming stories, initiatives, case studies and strategies into relevant, bitesize messages for the general public.

We will be sharing this information with the public using our social media channels @FarmingCAN to provide farming facts; answering their questions, dispelling myths and putting the real truth out there to demonstrate how farming is adapting, explain what is being done and bring the public and farmers closer together.

This positive campaign will showcase the people, organisations and efforts of the whole farming industry to the general public through FGInsight.com/FarmingCAN and the dedicated public-facing social media accounts @FarmingCAN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.