The Government has today (15 July) served up its new Good Food Cycle – looking to drive a generational change in the nation’s relationship with food.
The new Good Food Cycle identifies ten priority outcomes needed to build a thriving food sector while tackling challenges from rising obesity rates to climate change impacts on production, representing a milestone in the government’s work to develop a comprehensive food strategy.
Key outcomes to create a good food cycle include an improved environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales, access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options as well as conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity and fairer more transparent supply chains.
Stronger, more resilient food supply chains protect Britain from potential disruptions and strengthen national security, the Government said. “Making sure everyone can afford healthy food drives our health mission by helping people stay well and reducing pressure on the NHS,” it added.
Minister for Food Security, Daniel Zeichner (left), said of the news: “Food security is national security – we need a resilient food system that can weather any storm while ensuring families across the country can access affordable, healthy food.
“This isn’t just about what’s on our plates today, it’s about building a stronger food system for generations to come, supporting economic growth, health and opportunity as part of our Plan for Change.”
The ten outcomes have been informed by advice from departments across government, the Food Strategy Advisory Board, workshops with interested charities and businesses, as well as members of the public from a Citizen Advisory Council to ensure everyone stands to benefit from a nutritious, sustainable and resilient food system.
In addition, fresh partnerships with big food companies will see them sharing data on healthy food sales, creating more transparency and a level playing field across the industry.
Andrew Opie (right), director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said of the new plans: ”Retailers welcome the ambition and direction of the framework. They know customers want more British food, sustainably produced and with clear healthy choices; something we believe this approach can help to deliver.”
Meanwhile Sarah Bradbury, CEO at the Institute of Grocery Distribution, said: “We welcome the ambitions set out in the Good Food Cycle today and support the outcomes it describes.
“We partnered with the Defra team earlier this year to host multi-stakeholder workshops, engaging over 150 organisations across the agri-food supply chain. Their insights have directly shaped the Good Food Cycle’s ambition to build a food system that works for everyone – it’s a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration.”
Dalton Philips (left), CEO of supplier Greencore, also added: ”The Good Food Cycle is a bold and timely step toward a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food system. It sets the right direction for industry, government and communities to work together to drive lasting change.”
Finally, with Sainsbury’s a member of the Government’s Food Strategy Advisory Board and the only retailer involved in the new scheme, CEO, Simon Roberts, responded to the announcement: “Britain’s food system should be a powerhouse of economic growth, innovation and job creation, but in the face of ongoing and significant challenges, we need to work with bold ambition, commitment and focus to secure its future.
“The Good Food Cycle is a positive step towards building a more resilient food system and that ensures food in the UK is consistently healthier, more sustainable and more accessible to all for generations to come.
“The real work starts now. To unlock growth, and build a UK food system that works for everyone, we’ll need to work with pace, passion and focus across government and industry to seize this opportunity.”
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