The Summit, 'Putting Money on the Menu: How can investors transform the UK food system?', was organised by The Food Foundation.
Stuart Landrum, head of product and process for the supermarket chain Iceland Foods, delivered a strong message written by Richard Walker, the company’s executive chairman: “To achieve societal change, we need to get the whole food industry working together under a strong, clear and consistent Government lead.
‘When Governments do intervene, their actions need to be well thought-through and well-implemented, encouraging consumers to make a positive change to their eating habits rather than just hitting people in their pockets.”
Attendees were concerned that the food system is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. They also called for more to be done to reduce incentives for food retailers to sell ever greater volumes of high fat, salt and sugar foods which are fuelling the obesity epidemic.
Tim Benton, research director of emerging risks at Chatham House, added: “We are only growing a third of the fruit and vegetables in the world that are needed to allow everyone to eat a healthy diet, and about twelve times too much sugar.”