New Strategy Aims to Rethink Agriculture, Nutrition, and Food Security Across Britain

The UK Government has released a significant update to its national food strategy for England, framing it as a necessary response to the growing threats posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental decline. These pressures, it warns, are no longer distant concerns; they now pose real risks to the nation’s food security.

This latest plan replaces the previous strategy introduced under a Conservative-led administration. That earlier version faced heavy criticism from green campaigners, nutrition experts, and even its chief architect, Henry Dimbleby, who publicly voiced his disappointment. Key proposals were omitted, including recommendations to expand access to free school meals, require supermarkets to report their food waste, and assist farms in preparing for climate change.

The new food strategy aims to bring greater cohesion across sectors, outlining ten overarching goals that aim to link agriculture, health, trade, and the environment under a single strategic umbrella.

Currently, agriculture accounts for nearly 70 per cent of UK land and relies on natural systems, including healthy soil, pollination, and clean water. These so-called ecosystem services, according to the Office for National Statistics, are worth around £37 billion per year, with total natural asset values exceeding £1.3 trillion. Despite that, around 40 per cent of the UK’s inland water bodies are polluted by agricultural runoff and rural waste.

The food system is also a major contributor to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. When you factor in everything from farm to fork, including imports, it accounts for roughly 38 per cent of the UK’s total emissions. Agriculture alone is responsible for nearly 12 per cent. By 2040, if other sectors, such as energy and transport, continue to decarbonise, farming is expected to become one of the country's leading sources of emissions, alongside aviation.

The strategy also highlights the UK’s dependence on imported food. With about 35 per cent of food coming from overseas, it’s not just about what’s grown at home. The UK’s consumption habits are having a measurable environmental impact abroad, and supply chain shocks, many of which are climate-related, are becoming increasingly frequent. One recent study by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that £8 billion worth of imported food is at direct risk from climate disruption.

At the heart of the strategy are ten core outcomes. The government aims to make healthier and more sustainable food options more accessible and affordable for everyone. It also seeks to ensure that food is not just safe and nutritious, but also appealing and accessible.

Other goals include stimulating growth across the food sector, enhancing productivity, increasing supply chain transparency, and investing in innovation. The development of a skilled food workforce in every region of the country is also a central pillar.

On the production and trade front, the strategy outlines the need to reduce environmental impacts, uphold animal welfare, minimise food waste, and increase exports while maintaining UK standards. Strengthening domestic food production and building resilience to shocks, whether from global markets or climate events, also features prominently.

That said, there’s a gap between ambition and action. A separate Trade Strategy published just last month fell short of guaranteeing that trade deals will uphold existing environmental and ethical commitments, a point that has not gone unnoticed by campaigners.

The final area the new strategy tackles is food culture. The government wants to celebrate regional food traditions and equip people with the skills and confidence to cook and eat well. These cultural goals are seen as just as necessary as the economic and environmental ones.

Although the plan is specific to England, it’s intended to work in conjunction with strategies from the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The government acknowledges that achieving these objectives won’t be quick or easy. It will require coordinated action across public agencies, private industry, civil society, and individuals. Businesses will need time to adjust to new product standards, labelling rules, and marketing approaches. Ministers say they’re committed to providing a clear roadmap so that changes can be rolled out in manageable stages.

To help guide this transition, both the Citizens Advisory Council and the Food Strategy Advisory Board will be involved in shaping the rollout. The government will also continue to consult stakeholders from across the food system to ensure progress remains on track.

Real success, however, will hinge on close alignment with other major policy frameworks. These include the Environmental Improvement Plan, the Land Use Framework, the Food and Farming Decarbonisation Plan, and several different strategies related to growth, circular economy, and agriculture. Currently, most of these documents have not been published, with only the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Farming Roadmap available for circulation.

The food strategy also intersects with areas like trade policy, child poverty, and the UK’s international commitments to climate and development funding. It’s an expansive, interconnected agenda.

Finally, the government has promised to support better use of data and to back further research and innovation. As part of this commitment, it aims to reduce administrative burdens for food businesses by 25% before the end of this parliamentary term.

Still, many of the policies needed to bring the strategy to life remain in development. For now, the direction is set, but much of the road ahead remains unpaved.

The Wildlife Trusts’ senior land use policy manager, Barnaby Coupe, said: “We welcome the Government’s ambition for a sustainable and resilient food system, recognising that transforming our approach to food is critical to tackling climate change, nature loss and environmental degradation.

“This is a key step towards achieving climate, biodiversity and environmental protections, unlocking opportunities to boost our nation’s resilience and health, as well as creating thriving rural economies in the process.

“We now need rapid work across government departments, looking beyond the farm gate to bring healthy, sustainable diets, fairer food supply chains and resilient nature-friendly farming to life.”