The UK’s food system is on the cusp of a transformation – one that will radically overhaul our relationship with food and reshape the way it is produced and consumed. Diets will be healthier and less wasteful, the environment better protected from pollution, and supply chains more resilient and profitable.
We know that British food and drink is already loved around the world. From our rolling countryside to our bustling food markets, from traditional recipes passed down through generations to cutting-edge food technology, Britain’s food story is one of heritage meeting innovation. I think that we are too bashful, or dare I say British, about our outstanding contribution to culinary culture. I want to change that.
Around 4.2 million people work in food and agriculture in this country, exporting £24.4bn worth of goods around world where British food is a seal of quality, and keeping us fed at home.
Now, it is time we give our food and the people behind it the recognition they deserve, by building a food culture that will be fit for the future.
This week, I announced in Bradford the first step of the Good Food Cycle – a framework for this government’s vision for the future of our food system, and the investment required to realise it built through the collective work of government departments in partnership with all parts of the food system. The prize is huge: a system centred on truly good food that’s healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient.
It is an ambitious evolution that will prepare our food system for the challenges of the 21st century, and one built on the pride of Britain: our food producers and farms.
A resilient food system
Food security is national security. We are creating a resilient system that can withstand turbulent supply shocks and unexpected price hikes, ensuring economic certainty that protects consumers and gives industry the confidence to invest in our food system.
The Good Food Cycle represents a defining moment for Britain’s food future – enshrining our commitment to develop policies that will boost investor confidence and accelerate investment flows throughout our food system, ensuring Britain leads the world in creating truly sustainable, nutritious food for generations to come.
We are making our food more sustainable. We depend on nature for all we eat, and if we want to continue enjoying varied diets, we need to reduce carbon emissions and practices that threaten our natural world. Questions of how to reduce waste and pollution are not just for the agriculture sector to answer, but for the whole food supply chain.
Beyond security and sustainability, we face an obesity epidemic, as the profitability of fatty, salty and sugary foods crowds out healthier alternatives on supermarket shelves and in consumers’ shopping trolleys. We are taking giant steps – backed by industry – with the NHS 10 Year Plan setting out clearly our commitment to making the nation healthier.
We all see the need to change, we need to not only produce nutritious food, but support people in eating it, by ensuring healthy food choices are the easy choices.
We know this is not a small undertaking. The UK food system is vast and complex. It touches every household in the country, intertwines disparate industries, and impacts all levels of the natural environment. The transformation we are proposing cannot be achieved by government alone and will only be successful if we leverage the expertise, experience, and reach of the industry that will play such a huge part in it.
Working together
And that is exactly what we have done, working with the advice of businesses, charities, academics and others within the food sector to develop the Good Food Cycle framework, along with members of the public via a citizens advisory council. This collaborative work will only grow further as we look to the food sector once again to develop comprehensive delivery plans.
The collaboration of the Food Strategy Advisory Board has been instrumental in shaping this work and as we move forward, we’re refreshing the board’s membership to expand the expertise, in particular ensuring there is more representation for hospitality and others, to deliver the real impact needed.
We are taking significant steps, as the government works together and with partners to transform the food cycle. Along with the NHS plan to shift the dial from sickness to prevention, we are expanding access to free school meals to 500,000 children and leading on £8.5m of investment with UKRI to tackle health inequalities in the food system.
Already, cities like Bradford are charting the path forward. From giving primary school pupils the chance to grow and cook their own food, to supporting community venues that allow citizens of all ages to cook and eat together, the city has big plans to celebrate and improve its local food systems. It is exactly these sorts of local initiatives that we want to strengthen, as we support their contributions to our growing national food culture.
Everyone stands to benefit from a nutritious, sustainable, and resilient food system. The Good Food Cycle, and the Food Strategy it sets in motion, is the first step to driving a generational change in our food system for the good of our economy, society, and environment.
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