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 This year’s Oxford Farming Conference saw the launch of Food 2030 by Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
This document outlines the key food challenges facing the UK and other nations over years to come and provides a practical “roadmap” for how these are to be tackled.
A copy of the 84-page report, along with other relevant documents, can be downloaded via the link below:
Defra - Food 2030
Food 2030 builds upon the earlier Food Matters report, published in 2008 by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit (IGD provided some input on both).
The timing is clearly right for this report, since we now stand at a point of transition between an era of relative resource plenty – at least for Western consumers – and a period of more intense competition for limited resources. Plainly, food security is no longer an area where government can allow businesses to take a lead, and a more balanced hybrid approach is needed.
Priorities
Food 2030 sets out six priorities for the development of the food industry over the next twenty years:
- Encouraging people to eat a healthy, sustainable diet
- Ensuring a resilient, profitable, competitive food system
- Increasing food production sustainably
- Reducing GHG emissions from food production
- Reducing waste and maximising use of waste as a resource
- Investing in skills and technology
Goal-Setting
For each priority, the document offers a detailed vision of what "success" will look like, although in most cases this is expressed in aspirational terms rather than being measurable.
The last part of the document (p73-79) fleshes-out these targets, clarifying what the key "indicators" used to measure success will be, although in some cases these indicators are described as “under development” and presumably further information will follow once this work is completed.
Responsibilities
Each section of the report includes action lists, setting down what government, businesses, researchers, the 3rd sector – and shoppers themselves – are expected to achieve over the next 20 years, laying down how this might be done.
Analysis
Reviewing this document, most of the material seems immediately familiar. It is obvious that the UK food industry and the government have a shared set of objectives and a similar view of the actions which are required –something that should be welcomed.
Furthermore, the report clearly has backing at the highest level, with the preface being provided by the Prime Minister himself.
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Food 2030 recognises the value of the industry |
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The government has indicated that it is willing to provide leadership and to lead by example where necessary. Again, this is something that we should welcome, since clarity and stability of policy are necessary before businesses can invest for change.
It is also clear that a good deal of thought has gone into this document. DEFRA has consulted widely and understands the key issues. In fact, Food 2030 offers a comprehensive and very readable summary of some of the things that industry professionals talk about every day.
Encouragingly, the document recognises the value which the UK food industry provides, not only in terms of nutrition but also in terms of economic contribution, technical development and environmental management.
The profitability and competitiveness of UK companies are also highlighted as objectives, since commercial success is a condition for addressing non-commercial areas.
To help companies to achieve this, the government has undertaken to co-ordinate policy between departments, to adopt a “light touch” approach to regulation and to base policy on evidence or existing best practice.
Talking Points
There are, however, still two points to mull over.
Firstly, how will the imminent General Election affect governmental approach? It is possible that the next government will take an entirely different view of the issues in Food 2030 but, at present, this seems unlikely.
The food challenges will remain the same whichever party is in charge and, in any case, much of the thinking behind Food 2030 will have come from DEFRA civil servants rather from the political heads of department. What may change, however, is departmental budgets – the ability and the willingness of the government to pay for the necessary activities.
Secondly, can we expect a degree of compulsion in the future? The government has stated what it will do and has given a hint of what legislative and regulatory programmes will include.
It has also thrown down the gauntlet for businesses. If businesses are not seen to be following this lead and meeting the objectives that have been set, will compulsion follow?
And, even if there is no compulsion, if food businesses do not achieve the goals laid out for them, how will this be explained to a disappointed government, media and public?
More information:
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