Food producers from across Devon have taken their concerns over farming policy, food security and the rising pressures on businesses directly to MPs at a meeting in Parliament.

The event, held on Wednesday, October 14, brought together independent food and drink businesses for a showcase organised by Food Drink Devon, alongside a round-table discussion hosted by South Devon MP Caroline Voaden.

Among those attending were Sharpham Cheese, based in Totnes, and Langage Cream, based in Plympton, alongside other award-winning Devon producers.

Discussions covered the present challenges facing the sector, including support for British farmers, routes to market for local producers, hospitality staffing pressures, exports and regulation.

Food security and the proposed Good Food Bill were also on the agenda, with businesses given the opportunity to discuss their experiences with MPs from the South West and elsewhere in the UK.

Ms Voaden, who hosted the discussion with her party’s farming spokesperson Sarah Dyke MP, said the event had highlighted the frustrations felt by producers after several difficult years.

She said: “I was extremely proud to be able to host a variety of wonderful food businesses from Devon in parliament last week – many colleagues have commented how fantastic the food was!

“But doing a ‘Taste Of’ event like this has a serious side to it too. It often feels as though the government is working against producers, not for them.”

The Lib Dem MP criticised the previous government’s approach to inheritance tax changes affecting family farms, commonly referred to as the family farm tax, and the rollout of the Sustainable Farming Incentive under the current government.

She said: “At the round table we held with our Farming Spokesperson Sarah Dyke MP, it was clear the cumulative frustrations of recent years have had an impact.

“Producers want and deserve a government which recognises their contribution to our food security and in an increasingly volatile world, Britain must become more self-sufficient.”

The family farm tax refers to changes to inheritance tax reliefs for agricultural assets announced by the previous government. The Sustainable Farming Incentive is a government scheme paying farmers to carry out environmentally beneficial land management practices.

Food Drink Devon said the event was intended to give independent businesses a platform to explain how financial pressures and climate-related challenges were affecting the industry.

Amanda Ringleberg, a Food Drink Devon ambassador from Granny Gothards ice cream, said: “What was encouraging to hear about was the resilience of our businesses and to learn how they have responded to financial and climate issues.”

The organisation said closer collaboration between policymakers, farmers, producers, hospitality businesses and industry bodies would be important in supporting local businesses and strengthening the food system.

Food Drink Devon campaigns on behalf of the county’s independent food and drink sector, promoting local produce and the businesses behind it.

The Westminster event provided an opportunity to showcase Devon produce while raising wider questions about how government policy, food production and the resilience of the UK’s food supply fit together.