News article
27 November 2017
Food and Drink Industry welcomes announcement of Sector Council inclusion in Government's Industrial Strategy White Paper
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The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has today welcomed the publication of the
Government's Industrial Strategy white paper, which announced the establishment
of a Food
and Drink Sector Council.
The creation of the Sector Council recognises the importance of the many
sub-sectors that make up the nation's £112 billion 'farm to fork' food
chain and employ almost four million people.
Since April, FDF and its members have been working closely with Defra and BEIS
on an ambitious set of proposals as part of a food and drink manufacturing
sector
deal to increase productivity gains, while providing much-needed stability to
one of the
industries most affected by Brexit.
The Government's recent Made Smarter Industrial Digitalisation Review report
estimated that the food and drink industry could add an additional £55bn
to the economy over the next decade through improved digitalisation alone.
While exports of food and drink have grown to record figures over the past year, just one in five food and drink manufacturers currently sell to foreign
markets, presenting a considerable untapped opportunity for the industry.
It is hoped that the Sector Council will enable industry growth, with exports,
innovation and skills
seen as priority areas for both food and drink manufacturing and the other
sectors which make up the
food chain.
Ian Wright CBE, FDF Director General said:
“This is great news. We have been calling for a Food and Drink Sector
Council for some time and this is recognition from Government of the central
importance of the
food and drink supply chain to the economy.
“UK food and drink is a major national asset and the envy of the world.
The creation of the Council acknowledges the importance of the sector to both
national security and economic growth, and will allow us to unlock our very
significant productivity potential and
secure our position as a global leader in safe, sustainable, and high-quality
food and drink.
"We will continue to work closely with both Defra and BEIS to ensure we secure a
transformative sector deal for food and drink manufacturing.”
Welcoming the launch of the White Paper, Secretary of State for the Department
of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove said:
“The Industrial Strategy contains important plans to boost our agriculture and
food industries' productivity, while enhancing our natural environment.
“We have a thriving, world-renowned food and drink sector and the establishment
of a Food and Drink Sector Council will create a new and ambitious partnership
between government and industry. The Council will build on existing proposals
for a sector deal, securing the UK's position as a global leader in
sustainable,
affordable and high-quality food and drink.
“Added to that, the Industrial Strategy's clean growth Grand Challenge –
specifically the 'Transforming food production: from farm to fork' programme -
will drive innovation in food production whilst reducing emissions, pollution,
waste
and soil erosion. All of this will put the UK at the forefront of advanced
sustainable agriculture.”
More information
Contact Ted Woodward, Corporate Affairs Division, at: ted.woodward@fdf.org.uk, or +44 (0) 20 7420 7140.
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