Draft National Food Strategy: Written evidence

What were our key messages?

• The Food Strategy should be supported by well-founded scientific evidence, and environmental management should be integrated to ensure multiple benefits, rather than pursuing only a single goal like food security at the expense of benefits for biodiversity, climate, soil health, and water quality.
• Our food supply comes from a complex system, so we need to respect the holistic nature of that system, recognising the Sustainable Development Goals and other ways to achieve multiple benefits for people and nature.
• A Circular Economy is crucial for food production, minimising waste through husbandry, effective transport and storage, and informed consumer choices.
• Subsidies in the UK food production system, including historically though the EU Common Agricultural Policy, have not been based on a rigorous analysis of their impacts, including for climate change, water consumption, soil health, and biodiversity; a 'public money for public goods' approach would be a better way to secure multiple benefits.
• Farmers and fish farmers should be encouraged to deploy low input production systems, minimising the use of pesticides and herbicides, antibiotics and artificial fertilisers. 
• Any kind of success will be more likely with regular reporting against measurable targets across a Circular Economy for food.