Government Unveils Expert Advisory Board to Drive UK Food Strategy

Defra has outlined the objectives of its new food strategy and introduced the experts who will help bring it to fruition.

The government has appointed an advisory board comprising leading figures from across the food sector as part of efforts to shape its flagship food strategy.

According to the government, the cross-departmental food strategy aims to "restore pride in British food by ensuring a food system that backs British food, grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes individuals, and protects the planet, now and in the future."

The newly established Food Strategy Advisory Board (FSAB) includes notable figures such as England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, the Food Foundation’s Anna Taylor, McCain’s Jillian Moffatt, Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts, farmer Sam Godfrey, and Oxford University’s Professor Susan Jebb, among others.

Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, has been appointed as chair of the board, which will hold its inaugural meeting on Wednesday, 26 March. Meetings will take place monthly.

Defra highlighted its collaboration with the IGD in forming the board, with the grocery industry body serving as a co-secretariat for the meetings. The IGD will also play a broader role in food strategy engagement, acting as a neutral convenor, leveraging its charitable status and commitment to public benefit.

Objectives of the Food Strategy

The government has outlined key priorities for the food strategy, aiming to:

Improve access to affordable, healthy food to address diet-related health issues, ensuring children get the best start in life and supporting adults in leading longer, healthier lives;

Strengthen UK food security by enhancing resilience against climate change and geopolitical shifts, bolstering the supply chain that sustains the nation;

Reduce the environmental impact of food production, supporting the transition to more sustainable farming practices;

Foster economic growth by leveraging the government’s Growth Mission to drive investment, productivity, and innovation in the UK’s largest manufacturing sector.

Building a Resilient Food System

Minister Zeichner stated: “Our food and farming sectors are the cornerstone of our national identity and economy. We celebrate the great work that farmers, growers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers do across the country that puts delicious food on our tables.

“However, unhealthy diets are driving skyrocketing obesity rates, food security is under pressure from climate change and the way our supply chain works means some farmers are struggling to make a profit.

“Our cross-government food strategy will make sure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals, now and in the future.

“By bringing together expertise from across the food chain, this new advisory board will help us build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for everyone. I look forward to chairing these vital discussions and working together to deliver meaningful change.”

Defra stated that the board will bring together expertise from various parts of the food system to help set objectives and create the conditions for systemic change.

Alongside the board’s work, insights from the Food and Drink Sector Council and continued engagement with industry bodies such as the National Farmers Union (NFU), Food and Drink Federation, UK Hospitality, and British Retail Consortium will contribute to shaping a comprehensive food strategy.

The Strategy ‘Must Prioritise Growth’

The NFU has welcomed the FSAB’s formation and its emphasis on growing the food sector but stressed that the right policy framework must be in place to support farm businesses producing raw materials.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw stated: “The primary focus of the new food strategy and the advisory board needs to be economic growth. Without that, businesses the length of the supply chain, including farms, will be unable to focus on the other themes outlined for the strategy.

“Right now, the challenges facing primary producers are severe. Farmers and growers are grappling with inheritance tax bills that many will be unable to pay, uncertainty over environmental schemes, drastic cuts to direct payments, and rising National Insurance costs.

“Without profitable farming businesses it will be difficult for the strategy to realise its other goals of maintaining food security, boosting environmental delivery and securing the supply of healthy produce. The NFU’s recently launched Blueprints for Growth provides key policy solutions that will support these missions.

“Ministers say they want to restore pride in British food. I am more interested in restoring confidence in British food production. Our Blueprints for Growth set out a clear vision for building sustainable, profitable farm businesses – ensuring food production for 70 million people, protecting the countryside, and helping ministers achieve their policy goals. It’s a win-win.

“I know that the board’s farmer representative, Sam Godfrey, will bring his valuable experience of representing the sector previously and will offer essential firsthand insight into the realities of farming in these uncertain times.

“Alongside the valuable discussions that will happen on the advisory board, the NFU will be engaging directly with government and through its longstanding involvement in the F4 group alongside the other key supply chain trade bodies. We look forward to engaging with the food strategy to drive meaningful progress and build back growth in the industry.”