Food security is "top of the agenda", Rishi Sunak tells NFU Conference 2024
The Prime Minister has stressed that national food security is "top of the agenda" in a speech which strengthens the Agricultural Industries Confederation's (AIC) call for an independent UK Food Security Committee to be established.
Speaking at NFU Conference in Birmingham today (20 February), Rishi Sunak pledged to "never take our food security for granted" as he outlined his support for UK farming and food production.
He said: "While thanks to [farmers] we enjoy good quality food all year round, global events – including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have put food security back at the top of the agenda.
"[Farmers] help to employ millions, add billions to our economy, shape the landscape, but most of all, produce the food we need – food that is some of the best and highest quality anywhere in the world."
The Prime Minister also committed to an annual UK-wide Food Security Index and "Farm to Fork Summit".
Read more about the latest announcements on the GOV.UK website.
An interesting suite of policies from @RishiSunak today at #NFU24
— Ed Barker (@edbarkerAIC) February 20, 2024
๐£220m for innovation (broad & shallow?)
๐'culture change' in Govt agencies too?)
๐PD planning extension (Clarkson influence?)
๐ Annual food security report, UK wide (at last!๐พ)
๐ No ๐ stall ban repeats! pic.twitter.com/ZRp1J5A0fx
Food Security Committee
At the AIC Conference in November, AIC launched the "Powering Productivity for Sustainable UK Food Security" report that it commissioned Anglia Ruskin University to produce, assessing the agri-food sector's productivity with recommendations to sustainably improve UK food security.
The report's core finding was that "the UK would benefit from the oversight provided by a statutory body established by government to operate independently beyond short-term parliamentary cycles."
Chaired independently, this statutory body would advise the UK and devolved governments on the drivers of food security and report to Parliament on progress made in enhancing the productivity and resilience of the UK’s entire agri-food supply chain – from pre-farm suppliers, farmers and growers, through to processors, manufacturers, food service and retailers.
Much like the independent Climate Change Committee, it would take a cross-UK view of the legislative direction, aiding policy development and collaboration in support of our nation’s food security.
Robert Sheasby, AIC’s Chief Executive, said: "The unprecedented supply chain shocks of recent years exposed the fragility of the UK’s food supply and its deeply concerning lack of security.
"Productivity in the agri-food industry is complicated and no one policy or innovation drives its progression. It is the sheer breadth and complexity laid out by this report which has led AIC to call for the establishment of an independent UK Food Security Committee."
In the short time since AIC published the report, industry and politicians have backed AIC's call for an independent, statutory UK Food Security Committee to advise the UK and devolved governments on national and strategic food security by taking account of the wide-ranging issues which determine agricultural productivity.
Mr Sheasby added: "We welcome the support from industry and stakeholders so far. AIC is encouraging the entire UK agri-food sector to back this report’s core recommendation and we look forward to working with industry and government to make it happen."
Industry and political support for a UK Food Security Committee
Reacting to AIC's call for an independent UK Food Security Committee, the Farming Minister Mark Spencer MP said: "It looks to be a thorough and impressive report, covering all important themes in detail, such as improving productivity and enhancing the environment. We look forward to reading it in more detail."
Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) Chief Executive George Dunn said: "It is about time that we paid more than lip service to the delivery of our nation’s food security.
"Although the Government has a legislative requirement to ensure that it is encouraging the production of food in the development of its schemes and policies, there is very little if any architecture which truly holds the Government to account in delivering this. Unlike the legal targets that exist for environmental outcomes, there is nothing equivalent to target food security.
"A legally established UK Food Security Committee would give food security the prominence it deserves as part of delivering a healthy and resilient nation".
Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Mairi Gougeon MS, welcomed the report's findings. She said: "On the importance of giving food security focused attention and dedicated resource - I welcome this report and I agree with its conclusion. The report adds weight to the Scottish Government's realisation that food security matters now more than ever."
Professor Tom MacMillan, Elizabeth Creak Chair in Rural Policy and Strategy at the Royal Agricultural University, added: "Really great to see this from Agricultural Industries Confederation. [The report] covers themes that haven't always been a focus for the agricultural inputs industry, including systems, farmer-led innovation, public health and the value of different shapes and sizes of farm and supply chain. Refreshing strategic leadership for the sector."
Professor Sir Charles Godfray, Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, commented: "I think what AIC is calling for in a UK Food Security Committee is a great idea, we need something like that. There is such an opportunity here and, as an industry, we could do so much more in this area."
Barclays Bank's Head of Agriculture, Adam White, said: "The land use strategy is hugely welcome to support farmers on how their land can be used sustainably. In addition to this practical support and advice is vitally important, providing certainty for farmers."
Eleanor Kay, Senior Policy Adviser (Agriculture & Climate Change), Scottish Land & Estates said: "Scottish agricultural policy is on the cusp of significant change and ever-growing demands on land to deliver for food, the environment and society and this report from AIC arrives at a crucial time.
"Our ability to improve food security depends on there being sufficient production capacity, targeted research and development, and a clear understanding of the many expectations placed on land use throughout the UK.
"We fully support the need for a UK Food Security Committee that can build on the findings of the UK food security report and is able to consider the unique requirements of devolved nations. Scottish Ministers can then use this to inform their comprehensive food strategy. Supply chains are closely integrated throughout the UK for food, fuel, timber, and agri-products and it is therefore sensible that we consider a UK wide assessment of food security.
"A UK land use strategy has the potential to join up the delivery of funding streams throughout the UK to achieve multiple objectives, and increase productivity alongside climate mitigation. It should also ensure that devolved governments receive the appropriate budget for their domestic policy in response to the wider strategy and UK international obligations. There are many lessons which can be learnt from the established Scottish Land Use Strategy and regional land use frameworks."
In December the Environmental Audit Committee of MPs published its "Environmental Change and Food Security" report which advocated a new "cross-government, cross-sector food security body that brings together all actors in the food system to examine and make policy recommendations on long-term food resilience and environmental issues".
Election priorities for the food supply chain
With a General Election expected in 2024, AIC has published its manifesto setting out what food supply chain businesses need from the next UK Government.
AIC's manifesto outlines three clear election priorities, including "a comprehensive, cohesive UK Government approach to our food security and land use" which makes a compelling case for an independent, statutory food security committee to be established, considering the food production and land use balances needed for the UK and all Whitehall departments.
During a question and answer session with NFU President Minette Batters, the Prime Minister was asked about what the Government is going to do to address UK trade barriers with the EU and why the growing divergence in policy and technical standards isn't being tracked.
The AIC manifesto also calls on the next Government to "actively track and monitor divergences in policies and standards between the UK and EU, and within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland."
Currently, there is no formal policy or mechanism established by the UK Government to monitor or track the growing policy divergences between the EU and UK, with trade bodies and businesses left to undertake this crucial work themselves.
AIC's manifesto emphasises that a key part of improving UK trade will be negotiate a functioning veterinary or "Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS)" agreement with the EU.
This would allow businesses to be trade goods more easily with the EU and Northern Ireland, while respecting the UK’s independence in trade and legislation.
Reacting to the Prime Minister's speech at NFU Conference today, the Labour Party's shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP said: "We will tear down export barriers by seeking a veterinary agreement with the EU."
Visit the AIC's Election 2024 webpage to view its manifesto in full.
Authors
Oli Hill
As Head of Communications, Oli creates and oversees the content published on AIC's website, emails, Member briefings, print publications, and social media. A qualified multimedia journalist, he previously spent six years working at Farmers Weekly magazine as a Senior Reporter on the arable team, and latterly as Community Editor. More recently he was Communications Manager at Red Tractor.
