Annual Review 2009: Leading from the front

Industry in action

Food issues rise up the policy agenda

One of the hallmarks of 2009 was how quickly food issues rose up the policy agenda. This has allowed FDF to deliver key messages about the strategic importance of our sector – which are clearly resonating at the highest levels of Government.

During the year, Parliament's influential Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched an inquiry on future food security – to which FDF gave both written and oral evidence.

The summer of 2009 saw the start of a public consultation on Defra's Food 2030 vision, the long awaited response to the Cabinet Office's Food Matters report. FDF worked closely with Defra and our food chain partners in the farming and retail sectors to shape and develop a way forward aimed at making sustainable food production a key strategic priority in its own right. The final document, launched in January 2010, fully recognises the role and importance of food manufacturing. Defra is now producing an action plan and defining the concept of a 'healthy, low impact diet' – and FDF is contributing proactively to this work.

North of the border, SFDF has played an influential role in the development of Scotland's food and drink policy, and was asked to join the Scottish Government's Leadership Group which will deliver the next stages of the policy.

In this review

FDF: steered by our members -

Industry in action:

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