Greg Smith, a Member of Parliament, expressed his concerns about the impact of green energy projects on food security. He mentioned seeing thousands of acres of agricultural land in his constituency being used for solar farms. Smith highlighted the issue during a debate in the House of Commons, stating that valuable agricultural land was being sacrificed for solar projects despite assurances from the prime minister to protect it.
Smith called on the energy minister, Andrew Bowie, to prioritize food security over energy policy and halt the spread of inefficient solar farms on agricultural land. Bowie responded by stating that each project is evaluated on its merits and encouraged constituents to engage with the planning process. The project in question was still in the pre-application planning stage, with an application expected to be submitted in early 2025.
In a separate discussion during the session, Matt Warman, another Conservative MP, raised concerns about the placement of pylons for the National Grid infrastructure project. He emphasized the need for National Grid to consider food security along with energy security when implementing projects that impact agricultural land. Minister Graham Stuart assured that new infrastructure would be designed to minimize negative impacts on food security.
The importance of protecting agricultural land for food production was echoed by Welsh farmer Gareth Wyn Jones. He criticized government policies that prioritize renewable energy projects over food production, emphasizing the need for a balance between energy and food security. Jones advocated for utilizing rooftops for solar panels and supporting energy self-sufficiency to ensure a sustainable future for food and energy production in the UK.