Seminar on the future of British food industry

A Westminster Forum seminar is timed to follow the release of Defra’s 25-year food and farming plan to boost the growth of the UK’s food and farming, being released early this year, focusing on growing exports and trade, increasing competitiveness, technology innovation, investment and developing skills and employment within the industry.

The agenda will also include discussion on the Cutting Red Tape programme which allows business to inform Government on ways to cut red tape and reduce unnecessary regulation on growth and productivity in sectors such as agriculture. Delegates will also look at innovative approaches in developing a more sustainable business practice to improve food security, including the EU Circular Economy Package on food and farming businesses, aimed at creating a more competitive resource-efficient economy.

Further planned sessions will also include discussions on the wider challenges faced by the food and drink industry in contributing to the development of the public health landscape, promoting balanced diets and healthy lifestyles.

Sarah Church, Director, Food and Farming, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Anne Bordier, Director of Learning Programmes, IGD; Catherine Brown, Chief Executive, Food Standards Agency; Jayne Brookman, Head of Food, Knowledge Transfer Network; Angela Coleshill, Competitiveness Director, Food and Drink Federation; Professor Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy, City University London; Calum Murray, Programme Leader, Sustainable Agriculture and Food, Innovate UK; Meurig Raymond, President, NFU; Dr Richard Swannell, Director of Sustainable Food Systems, WRAP and Jon Woods, General Manager, Coca-Cola Great Britain & Ireland and Chair, Competitiveness Steering Group, Food and Drink Federation have agreed to deliver keynote addresses at this seminar.

Angela Smith MP, Member, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and John Stevenson MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Food and Drink Manufacturing have agreed to chair this seminar.

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