16 July 2025

What’s happened? 

Yesterday (Tuesday 15th), Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner launched the National Food Strategy (NFS). This was very much Part 1 though, since what has been announced are the key outcomes that the government will aim to achieve through the food strategy. They have called this the “Good Food Cycle”.  The next step will be to flesh out what specific policies will achieve the desired outcomes.

The 10 priority outcomes identified by the Food Strategy

The government has identified these 10 key outcomes that it believes are necessary to realise a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient food system, and that also celebrates the UK’s unique food heritage and culture.

🥕Healthier and more affordable food🥕

1. An improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales

2. Access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options

💷Good growth💷

3. Conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity, and fairer more transparent supply chains

4. Food sector attracts talent and develops skilled workforce in every region

🚚Sustainable and resilient supply🚚

5. Food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards, and waste is reduced

6. Trade supports environmentally sustainable growth, upholds British standards and expands export opportunities

7. Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food

8. Greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption, and impacts of chronic risks

😋Vibrant food cultures😋

9. Celebrated and valued UK, regional and local food cultures

10. People are more connected to their local food systems, and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily

What’s the tone overall of the Food Strategy? 

A big and rather radical departure from previous government language on food and farming. We’d like to think that our forthcoming Roadmap might have helped with some of this! A few key things of note;

ON LEADERSHIP, LISTENING AND GOVERNMENT:

• The whole of government is backing the NFS apparently, and wants to show leadership and action: Daniel Zeichner told launch attendees; “This is the first time the whole of government is aligned on a vision for the food system, putting people and planet at its heart.” The NFS positions the government as understanding the challenges and wanting to show leadership: ‘We must confront the challenges. Rising obesity, food insecurity, and environmental degradation are not inevitable – they are the result of political choices. This government chooses to act.’
• With this, there is recognition that food impacts far and wide across departments and all 5 national missions; ‘a key objective of the food strategy is to deliver a more coordinated and coherent approach to food issues across government’.
• The need for a ‘transparent, stable and predictable policy environment’ is recognised (watch this space!).
• A more inclusive approach to developing the food transition is expressed: ‘The transformation ahead will be led by the people who know the system best – our world-class farmers, fishers, producers, and workers. We will continue to listen, learn and act…’
• Change will take time – this is a long-term transition, not a quick fix: ‘Transforming the food system is a major change that will require a long-term programme of work. We cannot deliver everything at once. We will be honest about the constraints and complexities we face. The next key milestone will be development of metrics, indicators and implementation plans for the food strategy outcomes. As we do this, we will continue to listen to and engage stakeholders across the food system.’

ON FAIRNESS, CULTURE AND NATIONAL PRIDE: 

• The argument about food and national health has been gaining traction, but the NFS seeks to introduce arguments of ‘fairness’ and national pride too: Food is aligned to patriotism, identity and national security (‘Britain is what it eats: a proud, diverse, and resilient nation’). Producing food – namely the job or farming, fishing etc – is described as a ‘patriotic service to the nation.’ Inequality of access to healthy and sustainable food is not ‘inevitable’, but is a political choice: It is a matter of justice and dignity and impacts the whole nation. Also that working across the whole food system will be needed so that everyone has access.
• British-grown food is elevated to one of national pride that every citizen should have access to, and the importance and uniqueness of local food economies and knowledge is recognised; ‘Our approach also needs to be grounded in place. The UK food system is made up of many smaller food systems at a national, regional, community and household level. One size does not fit all. We need to unlock expertise, energy and experience at a local level’.
• Food is about people: The joy and culture of food, and its role in our identity are recognised as central. The three main aims of the NFS are expressed as; ‘a food system that grows the economy, protects the environment, and celebrates the best of British food and culture.’ It goes on to say that ‘to realise a transformation of the food system, we need to restore pride in and build on our unique food heritage and cultures.’

ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES & SECURITY:

• There is a recognition that spending public money on good food is more than just expenditure/cost, but an investment in the future; ‘Investing in British food is investing in Britain’. Also that building better food environments and eliminating the junk food cycle have a huge role to play.
• And also that a properly led food transition holds huge opportunity internationally; ‘With the right leadership, we can become a world leader in sustainable, healthy food production’.
• Our national food security is not a given; ‘exposure and vulnerability to multiple risks are increasing’.
• The economic opportunity of a system that delivers healthy and sustainable food is recognised, as is the problem with low margins for producers. The market does not currently adequately reward more environmentally friendly production, and producers face significant economic pressure to adopt environmentally damaging practices.

🥦For more insight and analysis, read this digest from our Policy Champion Ali Morpeth, who was at the NFS launch, or read more from our Just Transition & Citizen Engagement Champion Rounak Nayak on the NFS and a just transition.🫘