UKHospitality backs government plans for food security index

UKHospitality has responded positively to the government’s commitment to support farmers and improve food security.

The prime minister Rishi Sunak and Steve Barclay, the secretary for environment, food and rural affairs, unveiled the measures at the National Farmers' Union Conference in Birmingham. These included the “largest ever grant offer” for farmers in the coming financial year, which is estimated to total £427m.

They also announced the introduction of an annual UK-wide food security index, which will monitor the farming industry's self-sufficiency levels, as well as the launch of yearly UK Farm to Fork summits.

The first draft of the food security index is due to be published during the second UK Farm to Fork summit this spring, while the statutory requirement for an annual food security index will be posed “when parliamentary time allows”.

A £15m fund to tackle food waste will also be established to enable farmers to redistribute excess produce.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, said: “Food is at the absolute core of hospitality’s offering and robust food security in the UK is critical to our venues. It’s essential to maintain continuous supply and also to offer our customers the high-quality food they rightly demand.

“Both of the measures announced by the prime minister are very positive and I’m pleased that the government is building on the success of the UK Farm to Fork summit held last year.”

The move comes after the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into food security in July 2022 following concerns over increased pressures on food producers amid climate change, global conflicts and other factors.