We should not underestimate the significance of the government’s Food 2030 strategy, launched by environment secretary Hilary Benn at this year’s Oxford Farming Conference. The strategy document itself drew a mixed reaction, with critics quick to highlight a lack of new policy ideas or initiatives. But to my mind they are missing the point.

This is the first time in decades that cross-cutting departmental policies within government have been brought together to recognise the strategic importance of food security, and to support the role of a competitive and productive UK agricultural sector in meeting our future food needs.

The fact that this strategy is embedded across all government departments is the crucial factor. It is possibly the most significant development in UK food policy since the 1947 Agriculture Act was introduced to tackle post-war food shortages.

The strategy itself combines a broad range of food-related policies, including measures to support healthy eating, cut food waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve skills and collaboration along the food chain.

Its central message, however, is the need to produce more food with less impact on the environment. In doing so, a critical role is envisaged for modern, science-based agriculture, proportionate regulation and the need for a functioning R&D chain capable of delivering new technologies and production systems, from basic research through to practical on-farm application.

Indeed, as Benn addressed delegates at Oxford, the government’s chief scientist, Professor John Beddington, was unveiling a new cross-departmental science strategy designed to help improve the security and sustainability of the UK’s food system.

This recent transformation in government policy is quite dramatic. Not so long ago, ministers were confident that the UK could afford to import its food needs. Some suggested that New Labour cared so little about productive agriculture that Britain’s farmers were set to become a nation of park-keepers. After recent commodity price spikes, drought-hit harvests and food riots, that now seems a very distant memory.

But while the thrust and direction of Food 2030 is extremely welcome, there will be major challenges in its delivery. At a practical level, the UK’s capabilities and infrastructure for applied agricultural R&D and extension services have been progressively eroded over the past 25 years. Many farm research facilities have closed down, or lost their agricultural focus after merging with university departments. The loss of such resources and expertise cannot be recreated overnight.

Nor can we overlook the fact that while this is a food strategy for the UK, many of the decisions affecting its realisation will be taken by the EU. Let us hope that the new line-up of EU commissioners will act to submit decisions to greater independent scientific challenge and scrutiny - but in recent years, sound scientific advice has been over-ridden by short-term political expediency at an EU level, resulting in bad policies that stifle innovation. The decision to set new cut-off criteria for pesticide authorisation without any scientific justification or impact assessment, and what is essentially a total block on GMO cultivation approvals, are clear examples.

Shadow DEFRA secretary Nick Herbert missed the point when he said that Labour lacks credibility on food security after failing to act to boost food production over the past decade. The fact is that the government has seen the light and is now taking action to rectify the situation.

What is clear, however, is that a 20-year strategy such as this must not be derailed by party politics, general election year or not. Consensus on a long-term policy for food security must be sustained across four or five government terms, and it is therefore vital that support for the strategy is embedded, not only across government departments but also across political parties.

Dominic Dyer is chief executive of the Crop Protection Association