Response from the Soil Association to the National Food Strategy
Henry Dimbleby has launched part two of his National Food Strategy in which he explores how the food system in England works, the damage it is doing to our heath and our environment, and the changes we could make to prevent this. It also sets out a plan for the future, based on a broad spectrum of evidence and consultation with citizens. All eyes are now on Government who are committed to responding to this within six months.
Soil Association CEO Helen Browning said: “Among the most important recommendations in the strategy are those related to the food served in public settings, such as schools and hospitals. The strategy recognises the pioneering role the Soil Association’s ‘Food for Life’ programme has played in this regard and recommends changes that would put healthier and more sustainable ingredients on the plate, including British and higher welfare meat.
"The meat question will spark debate, but the evidence is clear that dietary change will be needed to enable more nature-friendly farming. The wider uptake of agroecology, as recommended in the strategy, would see livestock, and particularly ruminants, reintroduced into rotations and animals playing an important role on the land, but our diets must adapt for such an approach to be viable. We will need to eat much less industrially farmed meat, which can drive deforestation and land use change through its reliance on imported feed crops, and ensure that the meat we do eat is produced in regenerative systems that support biodiversity. The debate in farming shouldn’t be about whether this is so, but about how to make this transformation quickly and fairly, for both farmers and citizens.
“The strategy also positions ultra-processed foods as the new frontier in the battle against obesity and chronic disease. The proposed tax on salt and sugar is hugely important and should be enacted by the Government, but we would urge further action more squarely targeting ultra-processed foods. The French government has introduced a percentage reduction target for ultra-processed foods in the diet, and we should be introducing a similar target in England.
“The recommendations of the National Food Strategy offer genuine hope that by embracing agroecological and organic farming, and adopting a healthier and more sustainable diet, we can address the climate, nature and health crises. It is now critical that the Government implements the strategy, ensuring that farmers are in the vanguard of this good food revolution. We look forward to working with the national food strategy team and with the Government to this end.”