The NFU has welcomed the federal government’s new meals technique, however has harassed that it should be translated into ‘joined-up and pragmatic coverage measures’.
The federal government’s new framework revealed earlier this week, referred to as the ‘Good Meals Cycle’, identifies 10 precedence outcomes geared toward driving a ‘generational change’ within the UK’s relationship with meals.
These key outcomes embody:
- An improved meals atmosphere that helps more healthy and extra environmentally sustainable meals gross sales.
- Entry for all to protected, reasonably priced, wholesome, handy and interesting meals choices.
- Situations for the meals sector to thrive and develop sustainably, together with funding in innovation and productiveness, and fairer extra clear provide chains.
- For the meals sector to appeal to expertise and develop a talented workforce in each area.
- That our meals provide is environmentally sustainable with excessive animal welfare requirements, and waste is lowered.
- That commerce helps environmentally sustainable development, upholds British requirements and expands export alternatives.
- Resilient home manufacturing for a safe provide of more healthy meals.
- Better preparedness for provide chain shocks, disruption, and impacts of persistent dangers.
- Celebrated and valued UK, regional and native meals cultures.
- For folks to be extra linked to their native meals programs, and have the boldness, information and expertise to cook dinner and eat healthily.
It was developed by Defra at the side of authorities departments, the Meals Technique Advisory Board, workshops with charities and companies, and a Citizen Advisory Council, aiming to construct meals provide chains which are extra resilient.
Meals safety minister Daniel Zeichner mentioned: “The Good Meals Cycle represents a significant milestone. We’re actively defining the outcomes we wish from our meals system to ship an entire system change that can assist the wonderful companies that feed our nation to develop and thrive, which implies extra jobs and stronger native economies, whereas making it simpler for households to eat and really feel higher.
Ambition
The NFU counseled the ambition of the scheme, notably the goals round funding in innovation, clear provide chains, commerce commitments and getting ready for provide chain shocks.
Nonetheless, it harassed that extra detailed coverage on how the federal government will drive these outcomes shall be important. The technique depends closely on the success of programmes such because the Land Use Framework and the 25 Yr Farming Roadmap. The NFU has known as for meals manufacturing to be given the identical stage of prioritisation inside these as local weather and environmental outcomes.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw mentioned: “The meals system is complicated and it’s good to see ambitions for this technique to span throughout authorities departments. I welcome the constructive issues inside the technique round funding in productiveness and resilience to threat and shock.”
However he mentioned that, whereas Defra is holding a evaluate into Farm Profitability, there’s a ‘lack of joined-up considering, as evidenced on this meals technique, that farms are industrial companies and to succeed they should be worthwhile’, including that this poses a ‘actual threat’ to British farming’s potential to ship on meals, the atmosphere and financial development.
“We’d like everybody in authorities to recognise {that a} resilient meals system isn’t just an ambition however a necessity, and {that a} thriving, worthwhile farming {industry} is important to delivering this.”
Crimson Tractor help
Crimson Tractor CEO Jim Moseley mentioned the peace of mind scheme was ‘very supportive of a complete meals technique for the UK that helps native meals programs, home manufacturing and upholds British requirements’.
“We’d welcome the chance to proceed to work with the Authorities to know the position of assurance in delivering the technique,” he mentioned.
“Over the previous twenty-five years, industry-wide efforts to make sure the security, traceability and requirements of manufacturing of British meals have regained the belief of UK shoppers. This new technique should construct on that collective effort by backing British farmers, connecting total provide chains and ensuring requirements will not be undermined by overseas meals imports.”
