Defra Food Strategy Update

Defra are in the process of developing a food strategy for the UK. See below an update from the Defra Food Strategy Team:

Multi-stakeholder Workshops 

To kick off our first phase of food strategy stakeholder engagement, over the past few weeks, we have hosted four, multi-stakeholder workshops across London, Birmingham and Leeds, in collaboration with the Institute for Grocery Distribution. They had an excellent turn out with a good range of participants from across the food system, as well as government departments.  

In these workshops we explored the four pillars of the strategy, as we are currently framing them, to understand the outcomes we want from our food system and the jobs to be done, as well as potential synergies and trade-offs. These insights have been beautifully captured by Burograph in a series of visuals, which are attached to this email. We have also kept notes and further details of the conversations on the day, which will contribute to discussions and development of the food strategy in the future. With participants attending from different parts of the food system within a single space, these workshops prompted lively discussion and unique insights.   

Sector Discussions 

The multi-stakeholder workshops are just the beginning. We are now holding discussions with a broad range of food system sectors, in smaller, more focused groups based around existing Defra sector forums. These include multiple agricultural sectors, with further plans to engage with representatives from manufacturing, retail, hospitality and SMEs. This is in addition to extensive dialogue across the food system. These are providing more specific insights into sector aspirations, concerns and opportunities that may arise from change to the food system. 

Civil Society and Citizens 

Alongside the sector specific discussions, we are organising meetings with representatives from key environmental NGOs and Civil Society groups to ensure we are considering the perspectives of all groups within the food system.  

We are also working with the Food Foundation and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission to deliver a programme of citizen engagement over the next few months, building on their work with Citizens Assemblies and Ambassadors. 

Cross Government Working 

One of the key ambitions for this Food Strategy is to build momentum for change and more joined up delivery across government.   

Within Defra itself the Food Strategy team remain closely engaged with the teams working on the Farming Roadmap, Land Use Framework, Environmental Improvement Plan and Circular Economy, as well as linking in with related issues for agri-trade, and the seafood sector.   

We have established a Ministerial Food Strategy Group with ministers attending from the Department of Business and Trade; Department for Education; Department of Health and Social Care; and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The next meeting will take place after Whitsun recess. 

What’s next? 

The food strategy will not be a single-moment-in-time document but rather a programme for change that links together actions across government and the food industry to common goals and ambitions.  

We will say more soon about how the food strategy will move from concept to reality and how this will be done in partnership with everyone who has a stake in it.