The latest report sets out the food and drink industry’s recommendations for the UK Government’s National Food Strategy, which is due for publication in early 2022. It also shares the FDSC’s vision, ambition and solutions for the future food system.
FDSC believes the food system ‘must change’ as it needs to ‘provide more sustainable and healthier food, increase productivity and raise skills, and become more resilient to system shocks’. The Covid-19 pandemic, coinciding with the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, has demonstrated both the strength of our food system and its fragility.
It is vital that industry and UK Government work together to address the immediate problems in the food supply chain, but also accelerate the transition to a more productive and sustainable food system for the future.
Stefano Agostini, chief executive of Nestlé UK and Ireland and co-chair of the FDSC Food Strategy Working Group, said: “Industry is well aware of its responsibilities, and it must engage the public in the journey to a sustainable and healthier food system, but we cannot do it alone. Our external stakeholders, as well as the Government, will play a pivotal role in helping us achieve our ambitions set out in this report.
“In any National Food Strategy, the food industry must be the solution, and not the problem, for the strategy to succeed. The report outlines exactly how industry intends to do that and is a valuable contribution to the National Food Strategy debate.”
The National Food Strategy provides a unique opportunity for industry and government to work together to accelerate the transition to the food system of the future.
Key recommendations from the report include:
- UK Government to work in partnership with the sector to help deliver short-term economic recovery and long-term sustainable growth.
- An industry skills campaign that champions ‘Great British’ Food and Drink careers.
- Replace the current Apprenticeship Levy with a comprehensive skills levy, support the take up of T-Levels through industry placements and a greater focus on STEM subjects and food in the education system.
- Double the industry’s R&D spend and support SMEs to access innovation expertise, unlock funding and de-risk investments through demonstrator hubs.
- Maintaining strong support for high standards of food production in the UK and the integrity of raw material inputs.
- Create a ‘Team UK’ approach to trade priorities and promotion across Whitehall and the devolved nations.
- Achieve sectoral emissions reductions targets for 2030 to indicate the pathway to net zero in 2040.
- A ten-year government strategy encompassing obesity and balanced diets focusing of changing the food culture in the UK.
Stuart Roberts, deputy president of NFU and co-chair of the FDSC Food Strategy Working Group, added: “The food and drink industry is extremely versatile and that is down to the millions of people who work in our industry. It’s fantastic that there are so many people in the industry passionate about producing the food and drink for tens of millions of people every day.
“This report highlights the importance of collaboration within the supply chain and the vital role that research and development can play going forward to realise the sector’s full potential.”
Read the ‘Feeding the Future: Working together to build the National Food Strategy’ report below.