18 December 2025

From the launch of a National Food Strategy promising joined-up government thinking, to a 10-year Health Plan connecting diet with NHS sustainability, 2025 marked a tangible shift in how UK policy is addressing food systems. It was also the year that the AFN Network+ published its Roadmap for Resilience – our contribution to shaping what comes next. But while foundations have been laid for ambitious efforts, the real test of delivery lies ahead.

We dive into the policy and other key milestones of the last year, sum up progress and point out gaps; consider it a festive stocktake of the year in food systems, a reflection and a look forward into 2026.

🥕Food Policy 

Good Food Cycle signals cross-government approach. In mid-July, then Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner launched part one of the National Food Strategy (NFS), billed as the ‘Good Food Cycle’. Based on 10 key principles rather than specific policies, it was notable for gaining backing from across government, and including arguments to more fully address food culture, inclusivity and economic opportunities. For more insight, read this digest from Policy Champion Ali Morpeth, who was at the launch.

Food Strategy Advisory Board weighted towards industry. To help develop the strategy, the Food Strategy Advisory Board was named in March, with six members from industry, two from civil society, two from health, two from Defra, one retailer and only one farmer.

Scotland takes a step forward in food policy law. Scotland’s Good Food Nation Plan was presented to parliament in June, with six outcomes including access to affordable, nutritious food, boosting local food economies, environmental actions and net zero compliance. There is still lots of uncertainty about whether the Good Food Nation Act will deliver despite promises, but it nonetheless represents the best yet in UK legislation to support food systems transformation.

Unprecedented coordination across health, environment and food. The year’s key policy landmarks suggest a remarkable attempt at joined-up thinking to tackle food system transition. That said, implementation plans and enforcement mechanisms remain thin on the ground and 2026 needs to bring concrete policies, targets and accountability.

💚 Health

10-Year Health Plan recognises inequality and diet-related ill health. Wes Streeting’s new 10-Year Health Plan was also launched in the busy summer months. It was welcomed for connecting NHS sustainability with diet-related ill health and recognising inequality. However, there was no mention of food production or farming systems within the plan, and no reaction from farming bodies, so there is plenty more work to do to place agri-food within the conversation on health. Read the AFN Network+ digest.

Mandatory healthy sales reporting announced. One of the well-publicised elements of the Health Plan will see supermarkets forced to report on sales of healthy food, hopefully providing a strong incentive to increase them at the same time. Read our digest.

HFSS multi-buy ban (finally) implemented. The long-awaited 9pm advertising watershed on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) will begin in January, although new research by the Food Foundation has found that junk food companies have already discovered loopholes by increasing their spend in other advertising outlets, such as billboards.

Two-child benefit cap scrapped. Labour finally bowed to pressure and removed the two-child cap on benefits in November, which is widely regarded as the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty. See work by the Resolution Foundation on this, plus Food Foundation analysis showing how food insecurity is more likely in households with more than two children. On a parallel note, the government’s new Child Poverty Strategy has been welcomed as a step forward and “real progress”.

Soft Drinks Levy strengthened. Another concrete win for health policy in the Autumn budget was lower sugar thresholds and an exclusion removed for milk-based drinks, the so-called milkshake tax. Read the reaction from Sustain, which describes it as a sensible move.

Weight loss drugs could radically transform the food industry. While data is thin on the ground and largely self-reported, the vast take-up of weight loss drugs (known as GLP-1s) is already changing what, how and when people eat. This has huge ramifications for food system transformation, from a potential ‘firebreak’ in the junk food cycle to reduced costs for the NHS. Watch the AFN+ webinar or read the briefing.

Real potential, but a huge challenge ahead. This year’s health policy changes are a real shift forward in how the government is starting to recognise the links between social inequality, health outcomes and food insecurity. But make no mistake of the challenge from soaring obesity rates, NHS costs, and record numbers of emergency food parcels; more action is most certainly needed.

🧑‍🌾 Farming and Land use

Shock closure of sustainable farming scheme. Farmers were left reeling after the government closed its Sustainable Farming Incentive mid roll-out, leaving funding gaps, unfinished applications and fury among farmers. Read how it affected members of the Nature Friendly Farming Network. The scheme is now set to re-open in early 2026.

Extreme weather takes its toll. It was another difficult year on the ground, with severe weather contributing to low yields in some sectors and adding to financial pressures. Research published in August found that the majority of UK farmers have felt anxious or depressed after extreme weather events, with over half worrying about it at least every week. Read the AFN Network+ digest on climate change and farmer mental health.

A flurry of farming frameworks on the horizon. The 25-Year Farming Roadmap was announced in January, and is due for release in 2026. Meanwhile, the Land Use Framework went out for consultation and is set to be a major discussion point in 2026. You can read the FFCC’s round up of themes from the consultation workshops here.

Tension and lack of clarity. Farmers have spent much of the year waiting for clarity and fair transition support, amid ever-rising costs and unpredictable weather. Compounded by the Cabinet reshuffle and new ministers at Defra in September, there is a clear tension between ambition and delivery, which has yet to be addressed.

🌍 Climate

CB7 puts the spotlight on agriculture. It was a year of uncomfortable assessments as the 7th Carbon Budget (CB7) declared agriculture on track to become UK’s largest emitting sector by mid-century, with the Climate Change Committee calling for a 39% reduction in agricultural emissions by 2040.

The UK is ‘unprepared’ for food shocks. Professor Tim Lang’s powerful ‘Just in Case’ report identified the UK as unprepared for food supply shocks, with a recommendation to establish a legal obligation for government to feed people during crises, build food stockpiles, and create local ‘civil food resilience committees’. Watch the webinar or read the briefing.

Food features in National Emergency Briefing. The Westminster briefing brought experts together to warn parliament directly of existential risks posed by the climate and nature crises, with food mentioned four times in the strategy document. Links were also drawn to WWII preparedness and resilience. This is something we also identified in the AFN Network+ Roadmap, launched in October.

🚢 International

EAT-Lancet 2.0 strengthens evidence for plant-rich diets. Launched in Stockholm to great fanfare, the second iteration of the extensive food systems report EAT-Lancet 2.0 brought widespread coverage, and new elements including how to involve chefs and better tell the story. Read our digest.

COP30 focuses on food but yields little. Brazil’s pivotal COP placed unprecedented focus on food systems, but ultimately did little to shift the dial. While some positives came out of the talks to fund forest protection and just transition, there was no inclusion of commodity-driven deforestation, or how to support agroecological farmers. Read the analysis from IPES-Food.

UK has untapped leadership potential. While delivery and concrete policies are still lacking in some cases, the UK is actually further ahead than many countries on joined-up policies that could help transform the food system and improve health. There’s space for the UK to step into this leadership role more boldly in 2026.

🔍 Looking ahead

Here are four milestones and moments to look out for in 2026:

• The healthy sales targets consultation opens in March. Keep an eye on the gov.uk pages for where to submit feedback.
• The Farming Roadmap detail is due to be released at some stage in the year. Look out for new Defra secretary of state Emma Reynold’s keynote speech at the Oxford Farming Conference (7-9 January) for the first high-level appearance of the year and where she will no doubt face questions on the Roadmap.
• Speaking of Oxford, the Oxford Real Farming Conference takes place as usual across town from the OFC (8-9 January), as one of the year’s top meeting points for the alternative farming movement.
• What next for the National Food Strategy? Will it be shelved (again), or will Part Two arrive as planned complete with policy detail? We can but hope.
• Will new frameworks, including those on Land Use or the Health Plan translate into funded action?

2025 has laid the groundwork. 2026 will test whether ambition becomes action. We’ll be watching closely, and continuing to make the case through the evolution of our Roadmap and this network for the joined-up approach these challenges demand.