21 March – Leading figures from across the UK food system have joined forces with the Government to shape a national food strategy aimed at restoring pride in British food and improving

access to healthy, sustainable meals.

The new Food Strategy Advisory Board (FSAB) will guide a cross-government approach to food policy, helping to develop a system that supports British produce, drives economic growth, ensures food security, promotes public health, and protects the environment.

Chaired by Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner MP, the FSAB will meet monthly starting Wednesday 26 March. It includes senior representatives from government, academia, farming, food manufacturing, retail, and public health.

Britain’s food legacy is strong, with world-class chefs, farmers, and a diverse culinary heritage. Yet access to nutritious, affordable food remains unequal, and the UK food system faces growing pressures from climate change, public health challenges, and market dynamics.

“Our food and farming sectors are central to our identity and economy,” said Minister Zeichner. “But we must tackle rising obesity, threats to food security, and challenges faced by farmers. This strategy will help ensure our food system nourishes people, grows the economy, and safeguards the planet.”

The Board’s work is part of the Government’s broader Plan for Change and will focus on four key goals:

Health: Improve access to healthy, affordable food to combat diet-related diseases and support longer, healthier lives.

Resilience: Strengthen food security by building supply chain resilience to climate and geopolitical shocks.

Sustainability: Support environmentally friendly farming and food production to protect biodiversity and cut emissions.

Growth: Unlock the food sector’s economic potential through investment, innovation, and productivity improvements.

The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) helped establish the Board and will co-lead its secretariat, ensuring broad industry input and evidence-based collaboration.

Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said:  

“Our food and farming sectors are the corner stone of our national identity and economy. We celebrate the great work that farmers, growers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers do across the country that puts delicious food on our tables. 

However, unhealthy diets are driving skyrocketing obesity rates, food security is under pressure from climate change and the way our supply chain works means some farmers are struggling to make a profit.  

Our cross-government food strategy will make sure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals, now and in the future. 

By bringing together expertise from across the food chain, this new Advisory Board will help us build a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable food system for everyone. I look forward to chairing these vital discussions and working together to deliver meaningful change”. 

Institute of Grocery Distribution CEO Sarah Bradbury said:

“We are delighted to be given the opportunity to support Defra, working alongside and uniting stakeholders from across the supply chain, and collaborating with existing membership bodies who understand the specific requirements of their members.  

Working collaboratively, we relish the chance to work in a different way, interpreting the needs of industry, government, and society. Together, we can collectively drive meaningful change. As co-secretariat with Defra, our role is to support its engagement with the food system, gather evidence and inputs from stakeholders, and support meetings of the advisory board”.

Professor Chris Whitty (Chief Medical Officer for England) said: 

“Getting the right balance of food can contribute to a healthy, enjoyable and fulfilling life; if as a society we get this wrong it leads to health risks. A poor diet increases the risk of serious and long-term diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers.  

Adapting our food system so that it is easier for people to eat healthy, balanced diets will have a positive impact on population health”.

Food Strategy Advisory Board Members:

Daniel Zeichner MP (Defra, Chair)

Professor Chris Whitty (DHSC)

Emily Miles (Defra)

Andrew Selley (Bidcorp UK)

Anna Taylor (Food Foundation)

Ash Amirahmadi (Sofina Foods)

Dalton Philips (Greencore)

Flor Healy (Little Moons)

Jillian Moffatt (McCain Foods)

Ravi Gurumurthy (NESTA)

Sam Godfrey (Farmer)

Simon Roberts (Sainsbury’s)

Professor Susan Jebb (Oxford University)

Tim Smith (Cranswick)

Tessa Jones (Defra, Secretariat)

Sarah Bradbury (IGD, Secretariat)

The FSAB will complement ongoing input from the Food and Drink Sector Council and industry bodies like the NFU, Food and Drink Federation, UK Hospitality, and British Retail Consortium. A broader engagement strategy—including academic roundtables and citizen input—is also underway.

In parallel, a new Ministerial Food Strategy Group, chaired by the Defra Secretary of State, has been launched to drive cross-departmental alignment. Ministers from health, education, business, and local government are participating to ensure a united front in delivering a future-ready food system. Photo by  fotogoocom, Wikimedia commons.