A SpinWatch investigation published today outlines the crisis in the British countryside. It argues that nearly four years after the Curry Commission was meant to revitalise the farming and food sector, farming remains in crisis, and his reforms have failed.

The SpinWatch investigation reveals that the millions poured into agriculture since January 2002 have mostly been to finance neo-liberal policies that promote supermarkets and huge international businesses. They promote what we call 'big food'.

To make matters worse, the measures introduced by Sir Don Curry have done precious little to address the underlying causes of the problems facing the sector. For example, supermarket power has never been stronger, and Tesco now controls over 30 per cent of the retail market. Farm gate prices remain depressingly low and farmers continue to leave the industry at an astonishing rate. The dairy and beef industries are in crisis. Most of the initiatives have benefited supermarkets at the expense of farmers.

The report shows the dire straits of the British farming industry and why Curry has failed. It argues that:

• Curry’s original remit was flawed;
• Its solutions have been flawed; many just benefiting the supermarket model of business;
• One of the main conduits for funding of the local food sector is actually a specialized export agency;
• Other solutions – such as the Little Red Tractor – continue to lead to consumer confusion and animal welfare problems;
• Attempts to reconnect farmers with consumers have been thwarted –including the ground-breaking National Association of Farmers Markets and a marketing initiative called British Agriculture Marketing;
• Government initiatives have wasted money instead on consultants’ fees and fancy conferences;
• The NFU is cozying up to supermarkets at the expense of British farmers.