Publications
Latest:
Feeding the Future: Working together to build the National Food
Strategy
Published October 2021
Food industry solutions for the National Food Strategy – accelerating
the transition to the
food system of the future.
Our food system has been built over the last 75 years to provide British
shoppers with an
extraordinary range of affordable, convenient, great tasting food and drink,
from Britain and around
the world. Throughout time the food industry, from farm to fork, has played an
essential role in
meeting the changing needs of consumers, and solving the challenges of a
complex, international
supply system.
The food industry has welcomed and supported the development of a National
Food Strategy,
which is now more timely than ever. This report addresses the key challenges of
increasing
productivity, raising skills, investing in innovation and technology, improving
sustainability, and
enabling healthier diets.
We now have a unique opportunity for industry and government to work together
to accelerate
the transition to the food system of the future.
Read the press release
Download the Executive Summary
Download full report
Building a Thriving Food and Drink Sector: FDSC Transition Working Group
report
Published July 2021
The FDSC Transition Working Group was formed in late 202 to identify areas
where Industry
and/or Government should further their co-operative endeavour to enable the
industry to thrive.
Imports was the main area identified as a gap, where greater understanding of
the drivers and
opportunities for onshoring and substitution with domestic product would
support
greater growth and
resilience for the industry.
Additionally, the report, highlighted three key areas for additional
consideration by the Food and
Drink Sector Council:
- The need for a clear vision and policy for the industry that is aligned
with government; the
collection,
- The collection, collation, analysis and leverage of sound data and evidence
to inform
industry and government
- That innovation is critical for the success of the industry and its ability
to support government
goals.
Download full report
Covid-19 Recovery Plan
Published July 2020
Rebuilding the food industry, renewing the food system
Panic buying, empty shelves, the fear of food shortages. Within days of the
Covid lockdown, the
UK food system faced its biggest challenge since 1945 – to keep the nation
fed.
The next challenge is for our food systems to recover from this crisis and
take forward the
lessons learned from the past four months.
The Food and Drink Sector Council has launched its Covid-19 Recovery Plan,
outlining six key
areas that will be central to restart all sectors of the food industry, protect
food industry employees
and serve the changing needs of the public.
Read the press
release
Download full
report
Agricultural Productivity Working Group report
Published February 2020
Productivity is the key to unlocking future opportunities in
Agriculture.
The industry and government must together size the opportunities presented by
new policy
frameworks and technology to lead a transformation in our farming industry.
With the UK leaving the EU, imminent changes to agricultural policy and the
pressure to achieve
net zero emissions, the report, prepared by industry experts for the Food and
Drink Sector Council,
highlights the steps that together, industry and government can take to
overcome
the productivity
challenge that has long faced the British farming industry.
Preparing for a Changing Workforce: a food and drink supply chain approach to
skills
Published October 2019
Access to skills is a growing problem across the sector, and according to the
Food and Drink Sector
Council's Preparing for a Changing Workforce Report, the majority of companies
expect the situation to
become more difficult, as we see record lows in unemployment (3.8%), parts of
the industry where one
third of workers could retire in the next 15-17 years and a forecasted 120,000
fewer migrants overall by
2023.
This report outlines the future workforce and skills needs of the UK food and
drink sector, and has
brought together the entire supply chain to develop key recommendations for
both
government and
industry that will deliver a real step change.
Last reviewed: 14 Oct 2021