The future for British food
Updated: 11:53:06
How is it acceptable that rapeseed grown in the UK to Red Tractor standards can be mixed with seed from countries where the production rules are less stringent than RT and the grower has access to more agrochemicals that reduce their costs of production and boost yields? In this instance & in many other sectors of farming the playing field isn't just uneven - it's completely distorted. How can we rescue farmers from this challenge & ensure we see value for our increased standards?
Does the panel accept that something is going wrong between food leaving the farm gate and it arriving on the consumers plate, or should i say plastic tray... Does the panel accept culpability? What needs to change?
If you were to each write the plan for British Food in the next 100 years - what would your top 3 priorities be?
The government appears reluctant to have a credible food policy with targets and measures, leaving this to the free market and industry. Does big food business, retailers and processors, have strategies and objectives for primary food production and if so what common themes and trends would we see? As a primary food producer, in all but a few instances a strategy and plan seems to be lacking, or not communicated to farmers, am I correct?
Food Fraud has the potential to undermine the work, values, profitability and reputation of the UK farming sector. How can the FSA and organisations such as UK Hospitality & IGD work together to tackle this crime and flush out illegal practices.
FSA: With your ongoing public consultation on gene editing, what is it you're hoping to achieve and whilst welcoming the government's plan to improved food labelling, would GM produced food be clearly labelled by law?
In terms of grass roots suppliers and sellers. Will there be resources to use to help promote this buy British agenda we all want to promote?
It's great that customers want to buy British (notwithstanding price!). How do you propose that the labeling, traceability and accountability work in practice in the out of home market?
With Asda, co-op, lidl, M&S & Morrisons as sponsors, does the panel think that supermarkets support and encourage British agriculture & horticulture, by protecting the legacy that British farmers and growers have built for many generations? It is disappointing to see constant strain on the farming and growing industry with over half of British fruit and veg growers saying they may be out of business within 12 months. 75% surveyed by riverford said treatment by supermarkets was one of their top concerns. Thats not to mention the thousands of beef, sheep, dairy and arable farmers that have gone out of business in the last few years. The #GetFairAboutFarming campaign outlined the crisis that we are in and I personally get annoyed when I can’t find a British cucumber or broccoli in my local supermarket….not to mention chicken from Thailand or pork from Europe……understandably we have to trade but surely protecting British farmers and growers to allow them to live and work a sustainable life should be at the top of the supermarkets agenda.
Is the border control architecture, Structure and funding in the UK fit for a post Brexit Britain? With 57t of illegal meat seized at Dover since sept 2022, and the border control point being moved 22 miles in land, it appears to bring an unacceptable level of risk. What does the FSA and UK border force need to ensure UK food and agriculture is not exposed to the losses of income and consumer confidence of a preventable disease or food safety crisis.
It has been quoted that 50% of consumer consumption comes from out of home. We have the Red Tractor to signify to consumers that produce is British when shopping. What can be done to highlight this British indicator in a hospitality industry, especially when consumers are ever looking for an experience when eating out, rather than provenance.
Couldn’t increased labelling on food lead to greater confusion amongst the public as opposed to highlighting our British produce. How do we work together to prevent a complex labelling system whilst still promoting and providing clear identification of British produce?