Government makes food security a political priority

Launching the strategy – 'Food 2030' – at the Oxford Farming Conference, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: “Food security is as important to this country’s future wellbeing – and the world’s – as energy security.” 

He added: “We need to produce more food. We need to do it sustainably. And we need to make sure that what we eat safeguards our health.”

The food strategy sets out the challenges facing Britain in maintaining a secure food supply at a time of rapid population growth and climate change, and in light of the big price increases seen in 2008 following droughts and the rise in the price of oil. 

It sets goals for 2030 and highlights the changes that need to be made by food producers, retailers, consumers and Government to achieve them.

The Government wants to see farmers producing food efficiently, sustainably and safely to high standards of animal welfare. 

Food production should also support rural communities and contribute to UK and global food security, it suggests.

The strategy challenges farmers and fishermen to produce more food with fewer resources and, crucially, fewer carbon emissions. 

As the Environment Secretary pointed out, food production and consumption accounts for almost a third of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions – a level that must be radically reduced if European emission targets are going to be met.

The Government believes that science – research and development – will be crucial in delivering more food by 2012 in a way that is less harmful to the environment.

In his speech, Benn highlighted the example of the UK’s £200 million strawberry industry and the Defra co-funded field trials which have taken place at East Malling, testing a new irrigation system that responds to water loss from individual strawberry plants.

He said the technology employed in the trials meant that much less water was needed, yields held and the strawberries tasted just as good. He suggested it was one example of “how we can be profitable and sustainable today.” 

To support the efforts of the food industry in achieving the goals set out in Food 2030, the Government promises to support partnerships, fund research, regulate “where necessary” and cut red tape “where possible”.

It also undertakes to lead by example through public food procurement and campaign for change in Europe and globally.

Responding to the publication of the strategy, the British Retail Consortium seemed wary of too much Government intervention in this area.

"The Government deserves credit for putting this plan together but delivery is what matters,” said food policy director Andrew Opie.

He added: “We need a recognition that the market is the most effective way to deliver change. Food policy has to take customers with it. When customers understand and then demand, retailers and suppliers respond, producing change more quickly than politicians ever can."

In fact, the role of consumers – and the importance of supplying them with more information and better labeling – is central to the Food 2030 strategy. “Farmers can't make these choices on their own,” the Environment Secretary told the Oxford Farming Conference. “The supply chain is a circle and consumers are the beginning and the end of it. The choices they make determine yours.”

He cited the doubling of free range egg production in the last 10 years as an example of farmers responding to consumer demand “to the benefit of both”.

But campaign group Friends of the Earth is sceptical. "The Government claims that consumers can secure Britain's food future, but continues to spend more than £700 million of public money on environmentally-destructive factory farming each year,” said food campaigner Helen Rimmer.
 
It is Friends of the Earth’s view that Food 2030 “fails to tackle the devastating impact that intensive meat and dairy production has on the environment, ignoring the evidence linking factory farms to rainforest clearance, loss of wildlife and greenhouse gas emissions.”