Food Strategy: progress update

From the iconic fish and chips to our beloved Sunday roasts and tikka masalas, food is a huge part of our daily lives and national culture. Contributing nearly £150bn to the economy- more than any other manufacturing sector- and employing more than 4.4m people, food is a huge part of our economy. And given all of us need to eat to survive, food is, quite literally, vital to all of our lives.  

But unhealthy diets are driving skyrocketing obesity rates, limiting life chances and entrenching inequality. Food security is under pressure from climate change and the way our supply chain works means some farmers are struggling to make a profit. And while Britain is known for its top-tier restaurants, talented chefs, skilled farmers, and a remarkable mix of cultural and traditional dishes that are celebrated globally, British cuisine has often been undervalued. 

That’s why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are developing a new food strategy to make our food system one we can be proud of, that protects our strong British traditions, helps to grow the economy and improves people’s health. 

By setting and delivering clear long-term outcomes this strategy can drive a generational change in our relationship to food and the impact that the food system has on our economy and society. The strategy is an opportunity to break the ‘junk food cycle’ identified by Henry Dimbleby and replace it with a ‘good food cycle’ through which we can unlock growth and address the significant hidden costs in the system – from obesity to environmental damage – that successive governments have failed to tackle.  

Through the strategy, our aim is to:

• provide more easily accessible and affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food to tackle diet-related ill health; helping to give children the best start in life and help adults live longer healthier lives;

• drive investment, productivity and innovation so that our largest manufacturing sector can realise its potential for economic growth

• maintain our food security by building resilience in the face of climate shocks and geopolitical changes

• and reduce the impact of farming and food production on nature, biodiversity and climate

To be successful where food strategies of the past have failed, we’re ensuring this is a truly cross-government strategy with departments working together to support delivery of the Government’s Five Missions and Plan for Change. A first meeting has already been held of a new Ministerial Food Strategy Group, chaired by Defra Secretary of State and including Ministers from Department for Business and Trade, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The strategy will consider the food system of the UK as a whole. Recognising that large elements of food policy are devolved we will work closely with the Devolved Governments as we develop the strategy which will restore pride in British food. It will set the food system up for long-term success, ensuring that our food system can feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals, now and in the future.

This is not a job for government alone and we will work in a new way with the sector and other key partners to deliver lasting change. From food manufacturers to farmers to health experts, academics and civil society we’re bringing together a coalition to pool ideas, identify opportunity for change and the actions that will get us there. This will include a programme of engagement with stakeholders from across the food system. Through May and into early June we intend to run a series of large, multi-stakeholder events and engage with as many stakeholders as possible, including civil society organisations and citizens. We’ll also be drawing on Defra’s established industry forums and new collaborations for this (more information on these engagements soon). Complementing these engagements will be expert advice from the new Food Strategy Advisory Board and on-going engagement with academics.

And we will give the public a voice, giving individual citizens a chance to share their insights via a Citizen’s Advisory Council.

The work over the next few months will shape a vision for the future food system defined by a clear set of outcomes that has strong buy in across Government and the wider food system. These outcomes – a new ‘food system outcomes framework’ will be set out later in the year and together as a coalition of partners we will co-design our approach to delivery of those outcomes. While the work will be coordinated by government, different elements will be initiated and delivered by government, industry or other parts of the system meaning the strategy will be a true partnership, start to finish.