WITH Brazil being one of the largest poultry exporters to the UK, Leominster MP Bill Wiggin will be placing emphasis on that farming sector during his fact-finding visit there.

He said: "One of my main concerns is the amount of poultry meat contaminated with growth promoters called nitrofurans which have caused widespread health fears as well as under-cutting the price of safer British-produced poultry.

"I believe we have higher welfare standards and I want to be certain that Brazilian exports do not put British growers out of business."

Mr Wiggin pointed out that in Herefordshire many people either grew broilers or worked for Sun Valley and their future was enormously important.

Mr Wiggin is to accompany members of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee and he will also study the use of bio-fuels and genetically-modified crops.

In addition to being a pioneer in growing GM crops, such as soya and maize, Brazil is also the largest sugar producer in the world. The country has started using ethanol from sugar to augment petrol in cars.