Recently launched, 2030 food strategy by the British Government – this paper has many important suggestions for all food businesses around the world.

It discusses:

Priorities for Food 2030:
1. Enabling and encouraging people to eat a healthy, sustainable diet

2. Ensuring a resilient, profitable and competitive food system

3. Increasing food production sustainably

4. Reducing the food system’s greenhouse gas emissions

5. Reducing, reusing and reprocessing waste

6. Increasing the impact of skills, knowledge, research and technology

The UK leads the world in many areas of food production, the intent of this report is a guide to all food business who wish to value farming and the environment.

A few words from the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown:

“Good safe food on our plates is taken for granted by most people – and so it should be.

The last few decades have seen a transformation in the choice, quality,safety and affordability of the food we all eat day in, day out.

But we face big challenges today which mean we need to think differently about food. We can’t carry on just as we are. We need to produce more food without damaging the natural resources – air, soil, water and marine resources, biodiversity and climate – that we all depend on.

We need to feed more people globally, many of whom want or need to eat a better diet. We need to tackle increasing obesity and encourage healthier diets. And we need to do all these things in light of the increasing challenge of climate change and while delivering continuous improvement in food safety.

I am proud of Britain’s food sector, and I believe it has a vital role to play as we build a flourishing low-carbon economy for the future. Food contributes over £80 billion to our economy and is our largest manufacturing sector, with food and farming employing 3.6 million people. Looking forward, we will work to help ensure it can thrive as an innovative, competitive and resilient sector, and a sustainable source of growth and jobs.

Everyone has a role to play. that is why this strategy has been developed with, and will be delivered together with, a wide range of partners.”

full document:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/pdf/food2030strategy.pdf

Defra will be presenting this at The Food and Drink Innovation Network seminar on 27th Jan. http://www.fdin.org.uk/seminars/post-copenhagen-action-planning-summit/

And, as a matter of interest, here’s the Food Climate Research Network’s response to it.

http://www.fcrn.org.uk/fcrn_mailings/latest_fcrn_mailing.pdf

enjoy!