The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) has backed a recommendation by the Sustainable Development Commission calling for greater coordination between government departments in order to develop a sustainable food policy for the country.
In the report, entitled 'Setting the table: Advice to the government on priority elements of sustainable diets', the Commission called on the government to clarify the requirements of the food chain and to consider the potential impacts of dietary changes.
'We believe that all sectors of the fresh produce industry must play a leading role in developing a sustainable food policy for the UK,' said Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the FPC. 'FPC is involved in the government's fruit and vegetable task force which is looking at ways to increase production and consumption of fruit and vegetables, one of the priority changes the commission advocates.'
Mr Jenney said that all government departments could make a far greater impact by having a cohesive policy for public food sector procurement, which could encourage greater fruit and vegetable consumption.
'UK growers have a significant opportunity to increase the sustainable production of indigenous crops which are suited to our climate,' he said. 'We believe that Defra should identify those indigenous crops with greater production potential than is currently achieved and ensure that the sector has the necessary tools to maximise the potential.'
Recognising the relatively low carbon footprint of the sector was also crucial, Mr Jenney added, with many measures being implemented to achieve food production in a low-carbon world.
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