The prime minister is addressing the National Farmers’ Union’s (NFU)A annual gathering, in Birmingham.
Rishi Sunak is the first PM to address the NFU conference since 2008.
He starts by paying tribute to farmers and the work they do “not for praise or high reward, but to put food on our tables”.
Farming is going through its “biggest change in a generation”, the PM says – adding that the government will be by the side of agricultural workers in the future.
This will be matched by an expected total of £427m in funding for technology and productivity schemes.
Mr Sunak says the government is going “faster than almost anyone else in the world to tackle climate change, even as we reduce the burden on families” – part of the justification the PM used to water down his climate pledges last year.
Announcing plans to reduce red tape for farmers, the PM used the opportunity to attack Labour – criticising announcements in Wales on forcing agricultural workers to plant a certain number of trees, and a 20mph speed limit.
Mr Sunak says in April, legislation will be laid, so farmers can “create farm shops or outdoor sports venues” – a cause championed by former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson.
Other announcements include introducing yearly monitoring for a new food security index, new measures to stop food going to waste “because of its shape or size”.
Mr Sunak says he has stood up for farmers in trade negotiations, and is thanked for this – specifically in regard to Canada – by NFU president Minette Batters.
A member of the audience asks the prime minister what is being done to facilitate access to European markets for farmers.
Mr Sunak says the government is negotiating with individual governments on the mainland in a bid to reduce bureaucracy.
