Wild Deer Management and Sustainable Food

Opened the debate

Mr. Charles Walker began by discussing his involvement with the Country Food Trust, which was founded to provide nutritious meals to food banks using protein-rich meat sources like deer and pheasant. He highlighted that despite a high deer population of around 2 million animals in the UK (the highest since William the Conqueror's time), only about 350,000 are culled annually, contributing significantly to environmental degradation. Conservationists agree that regulated management is necessary but face challenges due to a limited domestic venison market and low carcase prices discouraging culling efforts. He advocated for better regulation, incentives for landowners, and the promotion of deer meat in food banks, schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. Mr. Walker also commended the Government's consultation on a proposed deer management strategy and their commitment to support venison market development.

Government Response

Minister Trudy Harrison congratulated Mr. Charles Walker for raising the issue of effective use and management of deer populations in the UK. She highlighted the importance of sustainable protein sources like venison, which is low-fat and high-protein, and praised the work of the Country Food Trust. The Minister acknowledged that England's wild deer are an integral part of biodiversity but pose significant risks to woodlands and other wildlife when their population is unsustainable. Harrison detailed Government initiatives such as the food strategy, trees action plan, and proposed deer management incentive payments aimed at promoting a sustainable venison supply chain and supporting land managers with economic losses caused by deer impacts. She concluded by emphasising the importance of working closely with various stakeholders to ensure healthy forestry and thriving native deer species while bringing nutritious deer meat onto plates.