Borough Market, London’s world-renowned historic food market, is hosting a special edition of its popular Borough Talks series in response to grave concerns surrounding the government’s proposed Agriculture Bill.  Food policy expert Professor Tim Lang will join food writer and critic Tom Parker Bowles, NFU President Minette Batters and Managing Director of Borough Market, Darren Henaghan, to discuss the Bill’s potential impact on food, farming and public health.

The ‘Borough Talks – Agricultural Bill’ will take place via Zoom at 1.30pm on Wednesday 17^th June allowing the panellists to respond to the second reading of the bill in the House of Lords on Wednesday 10^th June.  To register for the free Zoom talk go to bit.ly/BTAgriBill

The talk will be moderated by Angela Clutton, food writer and host of the Borough Market Cookbook Club.

Darren Henaghan, Managing Director of Borough Market said: “It is imperative that we give the proposed Agriculture Bill our full attention in the coming weeks. Without doubt, there are some elements of the Bill that are hugely positive, such as rewarding farmers who are environmentally responsible.  However, we, along with our producers and traders, are enormously concerned about allowing low quality food imports from countries whose standards of animal welfare, environmental protection and food safety fall below those of the UK and Europe.

Last month’s parliamentary vote may have been denied bandwidth by the coronavirus crisis, but the current circumstances make this debate even more relevant. Disproportionately, Covid-19 is affecting people who have conditions linked to poverty and poor diet including obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Although there are many others factors at play,  no one could convincingly claim that nutrition isn’t among them. The Agriculture Bill should be an opportunity to look hard at the quality of food that is pushed onto the British public and find ways to force standards up rather than down.”

Borough Market remains open for business from Monday to Saturday, with social distancing measures in place.  The Market is focused on selling essential supplies of fresh produce and store cupboard ingredients for those working and living in the local community. As more outdoor markets opened up on June 1st, the Market has welcomed back regular traders in the ‘Green Market’ area, which has been closed until now. Whilst all restaurants and seated catered food remain closed, a limited offering of hot food and coffee is resuming for take away only.

Visitors will find a changing line up of food on offer and can find a list of traders online at boroughmarket.org.uk