The National Farmers Union (NFU) of England and Wales is a prominent organization representing the interests of British farmers and growers. Established to champion British agriculture and horticulture, the NFU provides professional representation and a range of services to its members, which number over 46,000 farming and growing businesses. The NFU’s lobbying activities at the EU level focus on influencing agricultural policy, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EU budget allocations, state aid, food supply chain regulations, research and innovation, rural development, and trade policies affecting agricultural products. The NFU also addresses issues related to employment, health and safety, sustainable production, environmental and climate change policies, renewable energy, pesticide use, and biodiversity strategies.
The organization works closely with sister bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland and is a member of Copa-Cogeca, the European farmers’ and agri-cooperatives’ umbrella group. Through its lobbying efforts, the NFU aims to ensure that EU policies support the viability and sustainability of British farming, protect farmers’ interests, and maintain public awareness of the importance of agriculture to the UK economy and society. The NFU also provides advisory services on legal and technical matters, offers member benefits such as insurance and private medical care, and campaigns on key agricultural issues. Its EU lobbying is transparent and registered with the EU Transparency Register since March 7, 2016, reflecting its commitment to open dialogue with EU institutions and stakeholders
