Commissioner's 'taste of the South West a great success' - Watson

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Oct 2005

Commenting following the visit of Mariann Fischer-Boel, the EU Commissioner responsible for agriculture, to the South West, Graham Watson said,

"The farm commissioner's visit was a boost to our region and gave our farmers the chance to share with her their hopes for the future and the challenges of today. She will go back to Brussels with a much better flavour of the South West".

The visit took in a large part of Graham's South West England constituency, and began yesterday with a visit to Bower Hinton Farm near Martock to tour the River Parrett Catchment Project. The Commissioner was able to see the result of EU funding in the form of sustainable land and water use whilst conserving the environment.

Later in the day Commissioner Fischer-Boel and Graham Watson joined the Europea Conference taking place at Dillington House. Funded by the EU Leader+ programme, the conference drew together European agricultural colleges and training institutes, and was hosted by Cannington College. It focused on local sourcing, promoting relationships between food producers and agricultural institutes and sharing best practice. Giving the key note speech in the afternoon, Commissioner Fischer-Boel focused on the European perspective.

The tour then moved south to the Blackdown Hills project, where in Stockland Graham and the Commissioner saw an installation of a 50kW wood chip and wood pellet automated wood fuel heating system. Having been involved with numerous applications by constituents for Leader + funding, Graham commented:

"Many farmers and landowners in the Blackdowns are disadvantaged by the under-management of woodlands. This type of project has the potential to provide additional income."

Moving through the Blackdown Hills area a stop in Stockland saw Graham and the Commissioner hearing about Leader+ schemes to promote healthy eating and championing local producers. The visit gave the Commissioner an opportunity to see how EU funds are making a difference directly to local people and impacting on the local community.

More than 100 local farmers and rural industry representatives attended a supper organised by Graham, giving them a unique opportunity to meet with Commissioner Fischer-Boel. The food for the evening was entirely sourced from local producers, giving Commissioner Fischer-Boel a real taste of the South West.