Ag Bill must have stronger focus on affordable food, says Efra Committee chair

As a result of the hold-up, the NFU has revealed it plans to publish its own strategy based upon four pillars: the ‘moral imperative’, which focuses on the UK’s ability to feed itself; food integrity, standards and safety; healthy eating and nutrition and agriculture’s relationship with nature.

Defra Minister David Rutley, who was also speaking at the Sustain event, said Mr Dimbleby was working on the Government strategy and would have ‘full ministerial support’.

But Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City, University of London, warned Mr Gove’s likely departure after the leadership election could see the strategy kicked into the long grass.

This would make it the second food strategy – following in the footsteps of the 25-Year Food and Farming Plan promised in the 2015 Conservative Party manifesto – to be ditched.

Insiders

Writing exclusively for Farmers Guardian’s Brexit hub, Prof Lang said: “Insiders tell me that a few months ago, if Mr Gove were to leave Defra, the Dimbleby English Food Strategy process would have died too.

“Now, it is said to be more hard-wired in Defra, but a new Secretary of State might put it on ice.

“Henry Dimbleby, to his credit, told our City Food Symposium in April that whether official or not, the process of food strategy review would have to continue.

“He is right in theory, but would it have leverage if outside Whitehall? I suspect not.”

To read Prof Lang’s piece in full, click HERE.