Concerns raised about increase in 'mega farms' in Norfolk
A petition against a planned farm in Methwold had got more than 15,000 signatures
Residents in Norfolk are concerned about an increase in so-called "mega farms", with the region dubbed the "mega farm capital of Europe", according to a Labour MP.
Terry Jermy, who beat Liz Truss at last year's general election in South West Norfolk, said one petition against a planned farm in Methwold had got more than 15,000 signatures. Cranswick is proposing to open a farm to house 870,000 chickens and 14,000 pigs on the site in Norfolk.
There are 1,000 large intensive pig and poultry farms across the UK, according to a study by Compassion in World. The number in Norfolk has risen 20% since 2016, MPs heard. Mr Jermy said: "We cannot allow megafarms to dominate the industry and the landscape."
He added: "Residents in my constituency are very concerned about the increasing number of intensive farms and how these are contributing to biodiversity loss, as well as climate change and water pollution."
He continued: "This is not farming, it is industrialisation."
A Labour colleague, Julia Buckley (Shrewsbury) praised the Government's new procurement policy to ensure 50% of public funded catering must come from local farms.
She said: "This means every meal in every hospital, and in every army camp, and in every prison will be supplied with at least 50% local produce from British farmers. I can't wait to see the impact this will have at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Nesscliffe army camp in my constituency."