Today, the Prime Minister announced a substantial package of measures aimed at bolstering the UK's farming and food sector, unveiled at the Farm to

Fork Summit hosted at Downing Street.

This comprehensive initiative is designed to enhance domestic food production, foster innovation within the sector to realize its economic potential, and cultivate the next generation of farming and food leaders.

Key highlights of the package include the introduction of a new Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector. This blueprint outlines collaborative efforts between industry and government to expand domestic production and attract investments into this crucial sector, which contributes over £4 billion to the UK economy.

The plan encompasses:

Ensuring affordable and sustainable energy and water access for the sector.

Streamlining planning regulations to facilitate quicker and easier construction of glasshouses.

Doubling funding for horticulture businesses to £80 million, surpassing the EU's Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme legacy, to foster innovation.

Additionally, the Summit saw the debut of the inaugural draft Food Security Index, presenting vital data and trends to safeguard the UK's food security, enabling both government and industry to monitor short-term developments nationwide.

Further measures include enhanced support for farmers impacted by adverse weather conditions. Building on the commitment to extend the Farming Recovery Fund for flood-affected farmers, temporary adjustments will assist those facing challenges in meeting Environmental Land Management Scheme requirements. Moreover, £75 million will be allocated to support Internal Drainage Boards in recovering from the winter 2023-24 storms, offering opportunities for modernization and resilience enhancement for farms and rural communities.

To promote fairness across the food supply chain, the government has committed to implementing regulations aimed at improving equity within the fresh produce and egg sectors.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay emphasized the critical importance of food security, underscoring the summit's role in uniting government and industry leaders to fortify national food resilience.

"We are accelerating growth in our horticultural sector," Barclay stated, "supporting the development of state-of-the-art glasshouses and pioneering farming techniques to ensure British fruit and vegetables are available year-round."

Farming Minister Mark Spencer echoed these sentiments, affirming the government's steadfast support for British farmers amidst challenges like flooding, emphasizing investments in innovation, labor support, regulatory reform, and supply chain fairness.

"This is an exciting era," Spencer asserted, "where we invest in innovation, ensure labor availability, embed fairness in the supply chain, and attract top talent to the sector."

The government's commitment underscores its dedication to strengthening the UK's farming and food sector, positioning it for sustained growth and resilience in the years ahead. Photo by RachelH_, Wikimedia commons.