The NFU and BRC have signalled their support for the government's Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming, unveiled by Defra secretary of state Margaret Beckett on December 10.

However, NFU president Ben Gill stressed that the plan must lead to real change.

He said: 'In the last year we have seen a further exodus of more than 15,000 people from farming. This cannot continue nor the 42 per cent fall in UK farm incomes in the last seven years.

'By comparison, in the same period there was a 34 per cent rise in German farmers' fortunes - so we know it is possible to deliver key improvements.

'The key word here must be 'action'. If all the many recommendations are not implemented, and soon, it will not be worth the paper it is written on.' The report contains many themes that the NFU endorses. Critical among these is a better understanding of the costs in the food chain, the need to strengthen dramatically the collaboration of UK farmers, and a wide variety of measures to raise farm profitability.

The BRC's director general Bill Moyes commented: 'The government's strategy rightly emphasises the need to serve the customer. All the components of the food chain must work together to give customers what they want – the right products on the shelf at the right price.

'The interests of consumers are best protected by a competitive food chain. It is government's role to ensure a free and fair marketplace, where those involved in the modern UK food economy compete at each and every level of the chain on the level of service, quality of product and value for money that they offer to UK consumers. Government has no role in setting prices or margins.

'The BRC is involved in a raft of measures – including assurance schemes, the Food Chain Centre and the Organics Action Plan – which demonstrate retail's ongoing support for the government's strategy on food and farming.' The NFU's Gill concluded: 'We must all share responsibility for making this happen. It means a change of culture, a 'can-do' attitude and a 'how-can-I-help-UK-farmers-succeed?' attitude. It is a big challenge for Defra, for the food industry and for farmers.' The strategy offers to move in the right direction on tackling the burden of red tape but at the moment it is more of a wish-list than a detailed operational plan. It will require enormous effort if it is to be translated into the action that is needed.

Gill said he was glad to see the strategy was more ambitious than the Curry Commission on non-food crops and recognised the challenge of climate change.

He said: 'Defra has understood the potential in this area but action is needed urgently. We must do more to develop new energy sources and use environment-friendly practices to create renewable resources for industry. We are committed to lifting government policy in this key area.'