Farm to Fork and to the Future

The question is whether the discussions brought us to the foothills of a concerted action plan, or peaked with yet more re-articulations of the challenges of the sector…

The world is watching, let’s not blow it

Since the UK left the EU, the legislation and policies being developed around agriculture, food and the environment are being carefully scrutinised by other countries. The Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act is just one example of the enabling, science-based policy-making that underpins much of the UK’s success. To accelerate the industry, more like these are needed in agriculture and horticulture.

We also need leadership.

Concerted, consensus-building leadership – and this needs the buy-in of all political parties and across all relevant departments. Let’s not under-estimate the value of having had the UK’s Prime Minister as part of the Farm to Fork conversation. His presence, at the very least, demonstrates public recognition of the importance of the sector and its uniquely interconnected challenges.

Breeding, Labour, Water and Exports

Let’s summarise the key points from the Farm to Fork Summit (more detail is here).  

Precision Breeding is going to be big – with a chunk of cash (up to £42.5m) dedicated to maximising the potential of tools of genetic improvements.

Moves are afoot to address the labour shortages for the industry, with more seasonal workers promised (including more for poultry – Christmas dinner is safe!). And we can look forward to a response on the highly anticipated Labour Shortage Review.

Energy and water, critical for both broadacre and glasshouse production, as well as vertical farming are considered in some detail, with announcements about more flexible abstraction licenses and support for energy infrastructure.

Reviews for supply chain fairness are underway in dairy and pork – and a review for horticulture was also announced. Plus, exports and the UK’s reputation internationally will be boosted with more agricultural attachés in key locations and a £2m fund to boost the programme of trade shows and missions around the world.

So far, so good. So, where next?

At best it was the start of a Mission Critical Conversation.

At worst it was simply a suite of well-timed announcements landing in the industry, alongside the Secretary of State’s publication of the successful projects in the latest round of the Farming Innovation Programme.

So how to advance the conversation and provide the necessary leadership?

Councils, committees, working groups, Task and Finish exercises have come and gone. Some had (and continue to have) an impact, others were lost in long-forgotten acronyms that even the participants now can’t recall.

As an industry, we have multiple policies, we’re drowning in documents, there is a Food Plan, and the numerous challenges facing the industry have been articulated many times.

The world has changed – the clock is ticking

It’s time for a refresh.

It’s been 10 years since the national agri-tech strategy, and the world is now a different place. (For anyone keen to reflect on this more, join us at REAP 2023 in November – we’ll be talking about innovating to adapt beyond our comfort zone).

Yes, the agri-food and drink industry is challenging for any government to work with.

It is big, complex, fragmented and multi-actor with (so far, at least) no single voice. In addition, value capture and creation – as well as influence – are disproportionately allocated across supply chains.

Because of this complexity, and unlike some other sectors, it’s difficult for the government to sit around the table with all the “key players” and thrash out a 10 year plan.

But that isn’t an excuse or even a reason – it’s an opportunity the industry must collectively embrace.

A national, cross-political dialogue is needed, where self-serving agendas and party politics are set aside and there is purpose and focus on the pressing job in hand.

The Farm to Fork Summit was the start. Let’s hope it wasn’t also the end.