Industry leaders call for clarity and collaboration in UK food strategy

Senior agri-business leaders and policymakers gathered at the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) Conference on 11-12 November to call for a coherent, long-term strategy for UK food production and security.

The recently appointed Defra minister Dame Angela Eagle delivered one of her first major speeches, emphasising the importance of government and industry working hand in hand.

She said: “We cannot build a food-secure nation on short-term clarity” and called for shared ambition and industry input to ensure food security sits at the heart of national strategy.

Former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters urged the government to act swiftly on her Farm Profitability Review, describing it as a “moment of truth” for land-use policy.

She warned that farmers cannot plan for the future “without a coherent, long-term plan” and pressed for food production to remain central to national priorities.

AIC chair Jonathan Lane opened the conference by recognising the industry’s resilience and readiness to innovate. And the AIC’s CEO Robert Sheasby set out an ambition for the agri-supply sector to grow its contribution from 0.6 per cent to one per cent of UK GDP, calling for clarity, stability and collaboration across government departments to “unlock growth, boost productivity, and lead the transition to a more sustainable and globally competitive food system.”

The conference brought together leaders from across the UK and beyond, with sessions spanning trade, technology and climate resilience.

The shared message was that a confident, united sector working alongside the government can drive innovation, investment and food security for the future, placing agriculture and food at the heart of the UK’s growth strategy.