Increased consumption of fresh produce and its sustainable production are “vital” to meet the challenges of global food security.
The Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) believes the industry is well placed to help the UK Government deliver the recommendations set out in the Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures report led by the government's chief scientific adviser Professor John Beddington and published this week.
“We welcome the report’s balanced approach towards the need for imports and the recognition of our responsibility to support developing countries within a global market. The fresh produce industry is ready to play a leading role in developing a sustainable ¬¬food supply which can meet the pressing global challenges of producing more with less,” said Nigel Jenney, ceo of FPC.
The report is the culmination of a two-year study, involving 400 experts from 35 countries.
The FPC was involved in the government’s fruit and vegetable task force which identified last year a strategy to increase consumption and UK production of fresh produce.
The report recognises that both UK production and imports are critical to deliver UK and global food security, and that both can be sustainable.
Beddington commissioned the study and was among the first to warn of "a perfect storm" of a growing population, climate change and diminishing resources for food production.
It rejects food self-sufficiency as a viable option for nations and also recognises the need for fair and fully functioning global markets.
“We need to see swifter action from DEFRAand others to drive forward sound policies to deliver a globally sourced sustainable food supply,” said Jenney. “The UK government needs to deliver its commitment to reduce unnecessary burdens on the industry. We want to see progress in removing the cumulative impact of unnecessary regulation on the economy, and more effective influence with EU policy makers to ensure proportionate governance.”
The UK horticulture industry is meeting the challenge of reducing inputs through the use of integrated pest management. In addition, government investment to R&D and knowledge transfer is essential to ensure that the fresh produce industry is equipped with the necessary resources and skills to meet the challenges of delivering food security..
“The fresh produce sector has a relatively low carbon footprint in comparison with other food sectors and it’s important that we keep this in perspective while recognising the complexities of the whole food supply chain,” added Jenney.
The industry is tackling waste reduction across the food chain, one of the recommendations of the report. FPC was involved in a research project commissioned by WRAP which has developing detailed ‘resource maps’, quantifying food waste and packaging waste, through the fresh produce retail and wholesale supply chain. The project was led by Cranfield University, working with food and grocery supply chain expert IGD and FPC, representing the fresh produce industry.
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