What’s happened?
On Tuesday 15th July, Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner launched the National Food Strategy (NFS). It's the first step in a longer process - this announcement essentially lays out the ten long-term outcomes they want to achieve. The next step will be to develop the policies that will deliver these outcomes.
So what did they say?
The 10 priority outcomes identified by the Food Strategy
In order to realise a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient food system, and that also celebrates the UK’s unique food heritage and culture, the Government says we need:
Healthier and more affordable food
1. An improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales
2. Access for all to safe, affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options
Good growth
3. Conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity, and fairer more transparent supply chains
4. Food sector attracts talent and develops skilled workforce in every region
Sustainable and resilient supply
5. Food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards, and waste is reduced
6. Trade supports environmentally sustainable growth, upholds British standards and expands export opportunities
7. Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food
8. Greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption, and impacts of chronic risks
Vibrant food cultures
9. Celebrated and valued UK, regional and local food cultures
10. People are more connected to their local food systems, and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily
So what does that mean for permaculture growers and local community initiatives?
Overall the tone seems much more positive and we very much welcome the shift towards more ‘place based food systems’. The strategy clearly talks about ‘systems’ and is taking a much more integrated approach. The role of smallholders, local producers and grassroots projects and innovations is not yet well recognised, so we need to make our voices better known and lobby. We have spoken to Defra employees through the ‘Pathways to Agroecological Urbanism’ project we are involved in - and they were very receptive - but we need to get our facts and figures together and some really good case studies if we are to really shift the system.
For local growers and food system advocates, over time this should start to create a more supportive space. Much of what we want to achieve will be enshrined in the strategy and will make it easier to advocate and get support for our work.
Wider context
If we see this announcement in the context of the development of 48 Local Nature Recovery Strategies across England, and the Land Use Framework that was consulted upon recently, we can see a genuine opportunity for moving towards the kind of integrated land use, food and farming system that permaculture has been advocating - and working to deliver - since the early 1980s.
In conclusion
A lot more to do, but possibly the best opportunity for many years to shift towards a genuinely more sustainable and regenerative food system. Our focus now needs to be on grasping the opportunity. The project work we have been doing, and our recent invitations to join the UK Fruit and Veg Coalition and the Agroecology Research Collaboration, have given us some really good new links and a very clear action plan. With the necessary facts and figures, some great case studies and brilliant stories we can really start to move permaculture thinking through the open door!
You can help!
Funds are tight and staff are stretched - we are looking for some able volunteers to assist with this work and re-establish our ‘Farmers and Growers’ working group. Please email the office if you would like to be involved. As ever, if you can donate to support this work, we can dedicate more time to getting it done!