A CALLINGTON-based community interest company brought the farm to parliament recently for MPs and peers.

'Farmers in Parliament' was a one day exhibition which was attended by not for profit company Tamar Grow Local.

The day was hosted by Kerry McCarthy MP on behalf of the All Party Parliamentary Group on agroecology for sustainable food and farming.

The exhibition, opened by businesswoman Deborah Meaden, of Dragon's Den, saw farmers attend from a diverse assortment of farms, food community projects and food producers from around the UK.

All sectors of the food industry were represented from dairy to horticulture, traditional mixed farms and agroforestry and community growing initiatives.

Simon Platten from Tamar Grow Local attended to discuss with MPs and peers the work that the community interest company undertakes.

Tamar Grow Local is an umbrella organisation and has established and supported more than 20 different local food initiatives in the Tamar Valley to re-invigorate production and engagement in food growing. These range from community orchards and allotments to livestock co-operatives, food hubs and farmers markets.

Host and co-chair Kerry McCarthy MP, said: 'This event, and the wider work of the APPG for Sustainable Food and Farming, really addresses the important and urgent issue of how we can make our system of food and farming more sustainable, and how 21st century science can be applied to increase farm productivity while conserving natural resources.

'The event encourages MPs to talk to the farmers present and to think about sustainability when looking at food and farming policies for the future.'

Deborah Meaden concluded: 'Farm and food management methods grounded in biology make both sound long term financial and environmental sense. Farmers, landowners, food producers, policy makers and society as a whole must share the collective responsibility for future food production and work together to ensure truly sustainable solutions.'