The Food Policy Institute brings together politicians, NGOs, business, health professionals, farmers and community leaders who believe that an effective British food strategy, alongside joined up action across national and local government, can ensure that food tackles wider problems of physical and mental health, economy, poverty and environment.
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At a time of great international shift, Britain needs to put security at the centre of its thinking and food security is a vital priority. We grow 62% of our own food but challenges are emerging as weather patterns change, current farming practices are changing owing to land quality and the need to restore nature and labour shortages impact the ability to produce more.
Great Britain has enormous capabilities in innovation and use of technology to improve food security but also to drive new business opportunities in the food sector. There is an opportunity to invest and deliver the regulatory environment for more innovation in how we farm, as well as how we produce food such as alternative proteins. The UK can be a world leader in innovation around food.
There is a health crisis and the associated burden on the NHS will not be reduced unless we tackle diet-related illness. Every person should live a healthy life that enables them to reach their full potential not held back by obesity and related diseases. Access to healthy, sustainable food must be improved and tools within the remit of health, local government and education must be utilised to work together.
Within communities there is great power to make change and support a dietary shift towards healthier food. With joined-up thinking and smart budgets, we can drive community groups and make local food meaningful without cutting out recognition of the need for high standard imports and supporting British food widely. A realistic plan for food system change is crucial; idealism is not achievable and after several Government Food Strategies we need to ensure power lies closer to the public to make change happen.
A secure, sustainable and healthy food system will transform lives. Ensuring that farmers and growers are getting fair prices, paying the food sector workforce properly, reducing the use of chemicals and striving for food sovereignty should be paramount in policy-making. Doing what is clearly right for health, for the environment and for the economy makes the nation itself healthier and better off. Britain’s future depends on good food.