December 2024
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This conference discussed next steps for strategy, policy and action on food security, and priorities for the new Government.
Delegates discussed latest thinking on what is required to address key issues moving forward, with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs citing food security as a key concern. Discussion considered priorities for utilising funding announced in the Budget, which includes support for environmental and net zero goals within the sector, with £5bn to support transition to sustainable agriculture, £208m to boost animal welfare through upgraded biosecurity facilities, and developing long-term strategies to mitigate flood risks, as well as concerns from stakeholders over the impact changes to agriculture property relief will have on food security.
They also considered practical implications of the Government’s plans to introduce new laws to support precision breeding technology, and examine its potential to increase food production and reduce farmers’ costs.
Stakeholders and policymakers assessed priorities for agricultural funding budgets, opportunities for international agreements, cross-government working and building supply chain resilience to global shocks.
Delegates discussed what government proposals to treat food security as a key part of national security could look like in practice, including strategies for increasing domestic production and building on policy to support the local sourcing of food. It will also be an opportunity to consider the impact of measures recently announced by the Government aiming to provide stability to producers, including confirmation of Seasonal Worker visa route numbers for 2025, measures to help farmers deal with the impact of avian influenza outbreaks, and legislation to mandate sheep carcass classification and price reporting.
Sessions also examined the strategic direction of policy relating to the use of land and nature restoration, next steps for managing climate adaptation in the food system, and infrastructure and planning priorities to mitigate the effects of climate change, including flooding, as well as strategies for supporting manufacturers to deliver growth in the transition to net zero.
The future make-up of the workforce and policy for skills development was discussed, including enabling the use of innovation and improving knowledge transfer across farming to support the transition to new methods.
Further sessions looked at policy options for tackling key issues with food insecurity in the context of cost of living challenges, following the recent report from the HoL Food, Diet and Obesity Committee on priorities for developing a comprehensive and long-term strategy to improve the UK food system, including strategies for addressing food poverty and access to food for households. Discussion was expected on enabling access to healthy and affordable food ranges, approaches for local government and the third sector to support local communities, and next steps for free school meals and the role of education in healthy eating habits.
The future for accountability in addressing food security was also discussed, with stakeholder calls for Defra’s United Kingdom Food Security Report to be published annually. Delegates considered options for monitoring and reporting the effectiveness of new policy approaches, following plans from the previous government for a Food Security Index and ambitions during election campaigning to have a legally binding target for improving food security.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Dr John Ingram, Senior Researcher, Food Systems Transformation Research Group, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford; James Kane, Associate, Institute for Government; and Prof Christina Vogel, Professor, Food Policy and Director, Centre for Food Policy, City, University of London.
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those that attended include parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons and officials from Defra; DAERA, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; FSA; FSS; CCC; APHA; DESNZ; HM Treasury; DBT; Isle of Man Government; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
