UK Conservative Party leader hopeful Truss vows to improve national food security
August 1, 2022, 10:33 am

UK Conservative Party leader hopeful Truss vows to improve national food security

(L) UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, (R) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken - Photo: Liz Truss Twitter account

British Conservative Party leader hopeful Liz Truss has pledged to "unleash British food and farming" in order to improve the nation's food security, the Anews reported, citing the DPA.

The party, also known as the Tory party, is preparing to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson who was forced to resign after dozens of members of government quit in protest at the handling of a series of scandals, it said.

Truss said she would "remove onerous EU regulations and red tape" if she becomes prime minister, without going into much detail on which laws she would abolish.

UK foreign Minister also promised to tackle the labour shortages in farming, partly caused by post-Brexit freedom of movement restrictions, with a short-term expansion to the seasonal workers scheme.

The programme, first launched in 2019, temporarily allows 40,000 overseas workers into Britain for seasonal roles in the horticulture and poultry sectors, the report mentioned.

Truss said: "The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have shown it is more vital than ever for us to ensure we have a high-quality and affordable supply of British food." Photo: Pixabay

A recent government report warned that labour shortages "caused by Brexit and accentuated by the pandemic" were badly affecting the food and farming sector, often forcing farmers to leave fruit rotting in the fields and cull healthy pigs.

Truss said she would also work to address longer-term skills shortages and hurdles to the adoption of labour-saving technologies.

UK PM race: Defence minister Ben Wallace endorses Liz Truss

The former environment secretary vowed to replace EU law that restricts the development of farming infrastructure and technology, including agricultural drone use and precision breeding technologies.

Truss, who is due to meet farmers on a campaign stop in the south-west of England, said: "The pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have shown it is more vital than ever for us to ensure we have a high-quality and affordable supply of British food.

"As a former Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) secretary of state, I understand the challenges faced by farmers, and they can trust me to deliver the changes they need.

"I will cut the red tape that is holding them back and hitting them in their pocket."

Voting set to begin in UK race to become prime minister

Meurig Raymond, former president of the National Farmers' Union, said: "I share her vision of a competitive, profitable and sustainable farming sector underpinned by investment in the latest technology and innovation, and a proportionate and flexible approach to regulation."

A video of Truss during her time as environment secretary went viral when she gave an enthusiastic speech about opening pork markets during the 2014 Tory Party conference.

She caused further hilarity by saying that two-thirds of cheese sold in Britain was imported, with an unusually emphatic delivery of the line: "That is a disgrace."

Source: anews

Volodymyr Zelensky orders evacuation of Donetsk amid war with Russia No reported damage in Philippines from Chinese rocket debris

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”