UK Food cycle plan

‘It’s also part of what makes us proud to be British – whether it’s fish and chips, Sunday roasts, chicken tikka masala or dishes from all over the UK.’ 

I’ve taken the above line verbatim from the government’s much lauded plan to reform our broken food system.

Released earlier this week the ‘Food Cycle’ Plan has much to commend it – recognising the problems caused by our current system, the opportunity for change and the complexity involved in creating that change.

But my reason for highlighting the opening line above is to illustrate the scale of the challenge we face and reflect on the fact that the three dishes which the government uses to define our food culture in the UK are all meat based.

Furthermore the document places a high priority on strengthening and celebrating established national, local and regional food heritage and cultures. Curious as to what these might be, I searched google for celebrated UK dishes…..note the common key ingredient in almost all of the dishes below.

Now don’t get me wrong. The government’s plan is well thought out. By and large it pinpoints the challenges we face while setting out some of the key opportunities. It recognises the issues caused by our current food system pointing out that:

• Death and disability from dietary risks such as eating too little fruit, vegetables and fibre, and too much food high in fat, sugar and salt has risen by 46% in the last decade (including years affected by COVID).

• Agriculture and fisheries (especially in their most intensive form) are some of the leading drivers of nature and biodiversity loss

• Agriculture accounts for 11.7% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions and by 2040, expect agriculture and aviation to be the dominant sources of UK emissions. 

• Between January 2021 and April 2025, UK food prices increased by 36%, which is over 3 times more than in the preceding decade (January 2011 to January 2021).

But will government give itself the headroom to be truly transformational?

I’m not naive, I recognise there is always a balance in government of attempting to deliver positive change without upsetting too many of the electorate and the businesses which provide economic growth, jobs and, in this case, the food on our plates. 

But I do hope government is brave enough to truly shift the dial when it comes to food and doesn’t hardbake-in food choices (particularly where they involve meat) which don’t contribute to a better environment, better health and of course better animal welfare.

And so what would I like to see spinning off from the government’s plan?

• A focus on healthy plant proteins, backed by investment, research and plans for scaling, as part of a plan to encourage greater consumption
• Financial support for the UK horticulture sector, encouraging a greater percentage of UK grown vegetable and fruits
• Proposals to embed greater food education within schools, what a healthy diet looks like, the damage caused by our food system and the skills to prepare a set of dishes which focus on health and sustainability (i.e. without meat!)
• Using the power of public sector procurement, particularly in schools, to provide healthier meat-free dishes for students 
• Proposals to reduce the price of healthy sustainable foods and conversely increase the price of junk foods to help people make better choices

This list isn’t exhaustive obviously – but it seems to me these elements would set the groundwork for a more ethical, sustainable and healthier food system.

In summary, its hats off to Daniel Zeichner, the minister behind the plan, and his team for a good start. But let’s not get trapped by existing norms and culture. Instead, let’s be radical and take people with us on a journey towards a better food system.