AIC welcomes Steve Barclay as new Defra Secretary after Thérèse Coffey resigns
The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has welcomed Steve Barclay MP as the newly appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Today (13 November) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak embarked on a reshuffle of his Cabinet which saw the former Defra Secretary Thérèse Coffey MP resign and return to the backbenches of the House of Commons.
As Chief Executive of the UK's agri-supply trade association, AIC’s Robert Sheasby congratulated Steve Barclay MP on their new role and stressed the need to provide certainty for the UK agricultural industry.
He said: "Congratulations to Steve Barclay MP on becoming Secretary of State for Defra. Our industry is crying out for some stability in these challenging times - businesses need certainty to invest with confidence.
"We look forward to engaging with the Secretary of State on the range of issues facing British agriculture and our environment, including bolstering the UK's long-term food security and achieving a clear Land Use Framework."
AIC will write to the new Secretary of State to outline priorities for the UK's agri-supply sector.
Mr Sheasby also thanked the former Defra Secretary Dr Coffey for her work with the industry over the past year.
"I'd like to extend my thanks to Thérèse Coffey MP for working constructively with AIC and the wider agriculture industry on pushing forward to make gene editing a reality, granting vital reassurances on the supply of treated seed, and for her robust defence of glyphosate as an important tool in sustainable crop production."
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