New Food Strategy for England 2025

On the 15th July 2025 the UK government put forward its proposals for a new Food Strategy for England. The food strategy is intended to be a process by which we move from the food system we have, to the food system we want to see in the future.

But what does this really mean for farmers and consumers? The following is taken from the policy paper which can be found here

Key points of the strategy

The stated objective of this new strategy is to bring together the the entire food system to build a future where good food is accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few. A future where every child, every family and every community can access healthy, affordable and proudly British food.

The government also say that too many working families are struggling to put healthy food on the table and that the cost of living crisis has hit the most vulnerable hardest. They also state that the current food system is driving negative impacts on our health, environment and resilience that undermine our food security. This, they say, is why they are committed to transforming the food system - making locally grown British food more accessible and affordable for all.

The vision set out is a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate, now and in the future. The approach is to be centred on people. It is people who eat food, and who take joy in food and pride in our food cultures and heritage. It is people who work hard around the country and around the clock, to grow and rear our food and keep the supply chain flowing.

Problems to be tackled

Health

• Obesity-related ill health is estimated to cost the NHS over £11.4 billion every year, with wider societal costs estimated at £74.3 billion annually due to ill health (2023 estimates).

• Adult obesity has doubled since the 1990s. In 2022, 64% of adults in England were overweight or living with obesity

Environmental sustainability

• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the UK food system (including food imports) are equivalent to 38% of UK GHG emissions

• Agriculture accounts for 11.7% of total UK greenhouse gas emissions

• In addition to emissions, our food system also has wider environmental impacts overseas via the 35% of our food that we import

Resilience and food security

• Between January 2021 and April 2025, UK food prices increased by 36%, which is over 3 times more than in the preceding decade (January 2011 to January 2021) at 9.5%

• In 2024, the UK was 65% self-sufficient for all food and 77% self-sufficient for indigenous type food (things we can grow here). However, self-sufficiency is significantly lower in some sectors critical for healthy diets, including fresh vegetables (53%) and fresh fruit (15%)

• Climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation are systemic and chronic risks to our food security. Climate change is increasingly having an impact on the ability to grow certain types of food and on fish stocks, potentially weakening the resilience of supply chains in the UK and overseas

The plan is to create a "good food cycle" in which a transparent, stable and predictable policy environment supports investment in the development, production and marketing of healthier and more environmentally sustainable great British food for everyone.

Priority outcomes

10 priority outcomes have been identified that are needed to deliver and fully realise the benefits of a healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient food system.

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  

1. Conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity, and fairer more transparent supply chains  

2. Food sector attracts talent and develops skilled workforce in every region  

Sustainable and resilient supply  

1. Food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards, and waste is reduced  

2. Trade supports environmentally sustainable growth, upholds British standards and expands export opportunities  

3. Resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food  

4. Greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption, and impacts of chronic risks  

Vibrant food cultures  

1. Celebrated and valued UK, regional and local food cultures  

2. People are more connected to their local food systems, and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily  

Comment

In a country where it is estimated that 60% of all calories are now consumed in the form of ultra-processed foods, there is clearly an urgent need for a new food strategy. But this has to be a strategy focussed on real food and the farms that produce it.

Millions of people are eating their way to ill health and an early grave every day. But is that really due just to low incomes and affordability issues? Habits and the lure of convenience have to be major factors as well, as it's not just those on low incomes who are suffering from obesity-related ill health. We must all take some responsibility for ourselves.

If we are to make a real impact on improving diets and health, we need to encourage people to devote more time to thinking about what they eat and where it comes from. Connecting consumers directly with local farmers can help to achieve this. By forging closer connections, we can remind people of just how good real food tastes, help them to understand how their food choices impact not only on their own health and wellbeing but also the planet and our natural resources.

A sustainable and resilient supply of healthy food is cited as one of the 10 priority outcomes of the new food strategy, based on resilient domestic production of healthy food. In other words farmers should be at the very heart of the proposals stated in the strategy.

Well, let's see the support that is required from government to help farmers make the changes and deliver the food that is needed in a sustainable way. Many producers have already adopted environmental schemes only to find financial support for the changes they are making is withdrawn without notice. At the same time hundreds cease farming every year, no longer able to make ends meet thanks to the poor prices they receive.

Good food and good diets can save millions of pounds for the NHS. It can also save huge sums in reducing the impact on the environment. But the truth is good food costs money. The word "affordable" is used a lot in the food strategy policy document. But please don't continue to expect farmers to subsidise the food bills of every household in the country. If the government want a secure supply of healthy food, with good animal welfare and a positive impact on the environment, they need to break the cheap food culture that big food business has created.

In reality there is no such thing as cheap food; someone, somewhere pays the true price. These unseen costs are clearly outlined in the policy document - the cost of poor health, cleaning up the environment and our fragile food security. If people aren't prepared to pay farmers a fair reward there is no realistic prospect of a new food strategy achieving its goals.

The key priority of any new food strategy needs to put farmers first. Look after your farmers and they will look after you.