Farming bosses respond to DEFRA’s new food strategy: ‘Farms must be profitable’

The UK government explained that the strategy, called ‘Good Food Cycle’, identifies ten priority outcomes needed to build a thriving food sector while tackling challenges from rising obesity rates to climate change impacts on production, representing a ‘pivotal milestone’ in the government’s work to develop a comprehensive food strategy. 

DEFRA said that key outcomes to create a good food cycle include an improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales. 

The plan also covers access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options as well as outlines conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity and fairer, more transparent supply chains. 

DEFRA said that building stronger, more resilient food supply chains protects Britain from potential disruptions and strengthens our national security.  

Minister for food security Daniel Zeichner, said: “Food security is national security – we need a resilient food system that can weather any storm while ensuring families across the country can access affordable, healthy food.    

“The Good Food Cycle represents a major milestone. We are actively defining the outcomes we want from our food system to deliver a whole system change that will help the amazing businesses that feed our nation to grow and thrive, which means more jobs and stronger local economies, while making it easier for families to eat and feel better.    

“This isn’t just about what’s on our plates today, it’s about building a stronger food system for generations to come, supporting economic growth, health and opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.” 

‘Resilient food system is a necessity’

NFU said that the government’s ‘Good Food Cycle’ is a much-needed step in the development of its food strategy, but joined-up and pragmatic policy measures must sit behind it. 

The union explained that the strategy relies heavily on the success of programmes such as the Land Use Framework and the 25-year farming roadmap. 

The NFU has called for food production to be given the same level of prioritisation within these as climate and environmental outcomes.  

NFU president Tom Bradshaw pointed out that the strategy fails to recognise that farms are commercial businesses and must be profitable if they are to deliver sustainable and nutritious food for the nation, care for the environment and contribute to economic growth.   

He added: “The food system is complex, and it’s good to see ambitions for this strategy to span across government departments. I welcome the positive things within the strategy around investment in productivity and resilience to risk and shock.  

“While DEFRA is holding a review into farm profitability, there is a lack of joined-up thinking, as evidenced in this food strategy, that farms are commercial businesses and to succeed, they must be profitable. This poses a real risk to British farming’s ability to deliver sustainable and nutritious food for the nation, care for the environment and contribute to economic growth.” 

Mr Bradshaw said that while a long-term strategy is important, the development of policy behind it has to move at pace to provide much-needed certainty in the short term and restore farmer confidence.   

“These policies should value the contribution of our food and drink sector, the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, which is worth more than £148 billion to the economy and provides jobs for four million people.  

“We need everyone in government to recognise that a resilient food system is not just an ambition but a necessity, and that a thriving, profitable farming industry is critical to delivering this,” he concluded.  

READ MORE: Could you help Baroness Batters shape farm profitability review?

British farmers need backing 

Jim Moseley, CEO of Red Tractor, has welcomed the news by saying: “Red Tractor is very supportive of a comprehensive food strategy for the UK that supports local food systems, domestic production and upholds British standards.  

“We would welcome the opportunity to continue to work with the government to understand the role of assurance in delivering the strategy. Over the past 25 years, industry-wide efforts to ensure the safety, traceability and standards of production of British food have regained the trust of UK consumers.” 

Mr Moseley added that this new strategy must build on that collective effort by backing British farmers, connecting entire supply chains and making sure standards are not undermined by foreign food imports.

READ MORE: UK farming ‘can’t give any more’ in US trade negotiations  

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