New Food Strategy has a large, red meat-sized hole

We read the new UK Government Food Strategy for England with anticipation, hoping that it would include some detailed plans to shore-up the UK’s food security and domestic production in the face of new data showing that the UK is set to have the most rapidly growing population amongst major European nations in coming years.

We were sorely disappointed.

Not only does the document have little in the way of specific guidance and concrete actions, but it also omits entirely any mention of the meat and dairy industries. Considering those two food groups form a massive and important part of the national diet and a vital element of the Government’s own Eat Well dietary guidelines, such an omission in food policy seems negligent.

Warm words and promises but no substance

The document is heavy on aspirational proclamations and patriotic vision but light on the substance and specifics of how we’re going to deliver this “Good Food Cycle” and what business and industry needs to plan for. There’s a lack of commitment to actual activity.

The authors qualify this by saying it’s a living document that will continue to evolve. But judging from the last two paragraphs in the ‘Next Steps” section which contain a long list of yet-to-be-published metrics, indicators, reviews and other strategies and plans from a myriad of other departments, it almost feels like they’ve put the food strategy cart before multiple policy horses.

Meat industry excluded from policy workshops

It hasn’t gone unnoticed that the meat and dairy industries were conspicuous by their absence at the consultations and food policy working groups that supposedly reflected the “deep engagement across the sector.” Industry representatives from these two food groups were neither invited nor involved in those discussions, which were instead dominated by retail-focused groups.

The authors of this food strategy talk a lot about wanting to promote healthier diets. But we struggle to understand how they can do this without including in their work two of the cornerstones of a healthy, balanced diet: meat and dairy. Both industries are under increasing pressure and current farming policies often drive a reduction in domestic food production.

Our concern is that, far from helping to “support our food workers [and] grow the economy,” this food strategy could help the Government preside over a managed decline in our domestic food production and a weakening of our national food security.