Industry says UK Food Summit was “a step in the right direction”

At the UK’s first-ever Food Summit (also referred to as Farm to Fork) on 16^th May, the Prime Minister met with major food and farming industry representatives – including retailers, processors and trade bodies – to discuss the importance of food production and its role in feeding the nation and international trade.

Prior to the event, the government released a new support package addressing the farming industry’s most pressing challenges, such as labour shortages, empty supermarket shelves and the lack of fairness and transparency in supply chains. The measures announced include:

• Protecting the interests of the domestic market in future trade agreements
• New investment in precision breeding technologies
• The release of 45,000 additional visas for seasonal workers
• Further reviews of fairness in the horticulture and egg supply chains
• A reduction in red tape

Commenting on the event, the NFU was pleased to see domestic self-sufficiency being back on the political agenda, but stressed promises must be followed by actions.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “The announcements made today show a recognition and an understanding of the strategic importance of British food and farming to the nation. And the actions recognise the importance of coordinated action across government to support confidence, investment and growth in British food.

“What we need now is to build on these announcements. We are calling for a set of core agri-food import standards for trade. Whilst it is pleasing government is looking to maintain self-sufficiency at 60%, we believe there’s an opportunity to produce much more of our own food here.”

Ms Batters also urged the government to turn the Food Summit into an annual event to ensure “food security never drops down the political agenda, across all parties, again”.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has also welcomed the pledges made to support UK agriculture and is now keenly awaiting movement on these promises. NSA chief executive Phil Stocker, who was present at the event, said:

“After what has felt like years of farming only being talked about in terms of its environmental outcome and its carbon footprint resulting in endless criticism, the bringing together of farmers, farming organisations, processors, retailers and the hospitality sector to hear that the Government is firmly on the side of the food producers was a definite step in the right direction.”

While time constraints did not allow for a detailed discussion of the various topics brought to the attention of the Prime Minister, Mr Stocker said the meeting was a “great start and a very welcome initiative”.

“The proof of the pudding of course will be in the implementation of a lot of this on the ground. It cannot end with one meeting, we have to keep the momentum up and see food recognised as of equal importance to climate change, nature, and natural resources, after all, it is an essential of life without which we will not survive for long,” he added.

Meanwhile, British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BREPA) CEO Robert Gooch said renewed investigation into the fairness in the egg supply chain is a “necessary step” to ensure farmers have the confidence to continue producing high-quality British eggs.

“Free range producers have been trapped in a boom-and-bust cycle for years, primarily caused by unfair contracts which leaves their businesses carrying a huge amount of risk. The crisis seen in the sector over the past 12 months, as costs of production rocketed but prices paid to farmers stagnated, demonstrated why this intervention is needed.”

A review of supply chain fairness was also welcomed by the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), with the group closely monitoring the government’s ongoing work on developing regulations for the pig sector. However, BMPA CEO Nick Allen is concerned about plans to fill labour shortages with British workers, having told Politics Home recently: “70 per cent of our workers were non-UK when Brexit happened, and that’s a significant number to replace. We are not talking years, we are talking decades to get where Suella Braverman would like us to be, and that will depend on a lot of factors.”

Commenting on the addition of five new Trade Attaches to help drive exports of British food and break down barriers in overseas markets, Mr Allen said: ““It’s particularly useful that we now have direct technical input via the Trade Attaches, including a new veterinary representative in China. My hope is that this will lead to a deeper and more regular engagement that will facilitate trade with new and existing trading partners.”

Clear land use strategy needed to lift domestic productivity

At the summit, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) campaigned for clear land use strategy to be implemented, highlighting the need to boost productivity across the agri-food supply chain.

The value of quality farm advice was also raised, with over 5,000 farm advisers having 44,000 conversations a week on farm, supporting productivity and sustainability goals.

AIC chief executive Robert Sheasby pointed out opportunities to lift UK agriculture through the innovation and research and development of AIC Member businesses in all sectors.

He said: “Having a safe and sustainable supply of food cannot be viewed as an optional extra. Today’s meeting with the food and farming industry was a positive start.

“We now need stronger engagement and an unwavering focus from the Government to provide a clear land use strategy, which will give industry the confidence to invest and meet the dual targets of sustainability and food security as we work towards a net-zero economy.”

Along the lines of food security, Ben Dorks, CEO of food quality and assurance experts Ideagen, said while bringing costs down for consumers is a key part of the agenda, this shouldn’t come at a compromise to food safety.

Recent research conducted by the company has found that over half of Brits now consider the quality of food more important than cost, suggesting the need for some realignment in the supply chain.

“We need to create an environment where food producers can focus on what matters most to them – safe and efficient food supply – freed from those other geopolitical factors that are currently consuming so much of their energy,” he stressed.