The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) is calling on government to drive forward a sustainable development policy, as set out in DEFRA’s Food 2030 report.
The SDC has put pressure on government’s to drive forward a national policy and to have a “more imaginative approach” to European policy making.
Looking back, Looking Forward: Sustainability and UK food policy 2000 - 2011, reviews progress towards sustainable food policy in the UK from 2000-2011.
It argues that the coalition government has failed to layout any defined plans to underpin its commitment to producing more food in the UK.
It also argues that health minister Andrew Lansley’s plans for 'responsibility deals' with business to tackle obesity are weak and lack defined goals and adequate monitoring.
“This report recognises the importance of the horticultural sector in delivering sustainable development,” said Fresh Produce Consortium ceo Nigel Jenney.
“The fresh produce industry has called on the UK government to deliver on its commitment to reduce unnecessary burdens on the food industry. There is a pressing need for the UK government to tackle the cumulative impact of regulation, to influence policy makers in the EU and to have early engagement with the food industry.”
He added: “We want to see public sector procurement, another area covered in this report, combat poor diets and rising obesity levels by having a cohesive policy for public sector food procurement which encourages greater consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, regardless of their origin, and in line with DEFRA’s own definition of ‘locally in season’ which includes imported produce.”
The SDC comments on the limitations of ‘food miles’ as an indicator for sustainability, yet it talks about the importance of ‘local and regional’ in a national strategy and the development of new local food partnerships.
“We encourage both central and local government to recognise that many wholesale markets provide an excellent model and are well placed to deliver the objectives of a local food hub,” said Jenney.
No comments yet