Floods Show Threat to Farms of Climate Change - Benn
Date: 03-Jul-07
Country: UK
Author: Nigel Hunt
Benn had to wade through muddy fields in wellington boots to attend the annual Royal Agricultural Show and cut short his visit to return to London to make a statement to the House of Commons on the flooding.
"Farmers are of course amongst the first to feel the impact of a changing climate and need to adapt to it. The current floods are a very real example of that affecting...many farmers who have seen their crops damaged and in some cases destroyed," he told reporters.
Benn said agriculture was responsible for seven percent of UK greenhouse gas emissions and a large proportion of two of the most potent gases with 37 percent of methane and 67 percent of nitrous oxide.
"Together we have to take a lead on climate change because it is going to affect all of us, whether we are in the farming industry or not," he said, adding farmers needed embrace new technologies such as using crops to make biogas.
He noted farmers would need to adapt to changing conditions with an increased risk of disease and pests and water shortages in some areas.
"In the end British farming will be successful if we tackle climate change together," he said.
Benn, who was named as Britain's farm minister by the UK's new prime minister Gordon Brown, said the floods had dominated his first few days in office.
"On my very first day on Thursday I got on a train to go to Doncaster. We saw many flooded fields along the way," he said.
Benn said there were benefits to the use of biofuels but noted knock-on effects on food prices.
"We need to make sure we things in balance while responding to the huge challenges of climate change," he said.
Benn, who has been a vegetarian for 35 years, said he would support all parts of Britain's agricultural industry including pig farming.
"I'm sure the farming community is going to judge me by what I do in this job and not by what I eat," he said.
"I am looking forward to attending the Meat and Livestock Commission barbecue in Westminster later on in the month. What I am going to eat there I do not know," he said, in response to a question from a reporter.