Defra: ‘pivotal milestone’ on UK’s sustainable food journey

Earlier this month Bradford’s new Darley Street Market was the setting for an announcement by Food and Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner on the Government’s Good Food Cycle framework, which sees it ‘bringing together the entire food system to build a future where good food is accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few’.

It’s a vision shaped by the voices of over 400 farmers, fishers, producers, businesses, citizens, sustainability experts and organizations such as the Food & Drink Federation and British Retail Consortium. It sets out numerous priority outcomes to build a food system which feeds the economy, safeguards the environment and celebrates the vibrancy of British culture.

“We are proud of what our food system already delivers: feeding a growing population, offering variety and convenience, and upholding some of the highest food standards in the world. But we must also 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. 

“Too many working families are struggling to put healthy food on the table. The cost-of-living crisis has hit the most vulnerable hardest. That is why we are committed to transforming the food system — making nutritious, locally grown British food more accessible and affordable for all. This is not just a health issue — it is a matter of fairness, dignity, and national strength,” Defra says in its policy paper.  

“Since announcing our strategy, this government has taken bold steps: securing a hat trick of trade deals that protect our farmers, opening new markets for exporters and beginning negotiations to cut red tape with our closest trading partners. We’ve launched major initiatives to tackle obesity, improve children’s life chances and reduce child poverty — because no child should go hungry in a country as rich in resources and compassion as ours.” 

Framed by Defra as a ‘pivotal milestone in the Government’s work to develop a comprehensive food strategy’, the new campaign aims to move the UK away from the ‘junk food cycle’ towards a healthier, more resilient ‘good food cycle’ — an approach which has been welcomed by food alliance Sustain, which attended Zeichner’s public address at Darley Street Market.

“We welcome the Government setting out its Good Food Cycle vision for a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient food system and its ten priority outcomes. This is a milestone moment after encouraging progress in a first year in power upon which to build with better policy and delivery on food and farming in this Parliament and beyond,” comments Glen Tarman, director of policy and advocacy.

“Sustain wants a national, regional and local, cross-thematic Food Strategy that will meet the Government's stated aims and make the UK food system fit for all. We are encouraged that the Government has committed to work with citizens and civil society to bring that about, and that they have reaffirmed today, in response to Sustain, that if new law and regulation is needed, they will make it happen.”

By Rosie Greenaway, editor