Defra has published the results of a review it commissioned of the various food chain initiatives that it has been supporting. These include the English Farming and Food Partnership, the Food Chain Centre, the Red Meat and Cereals Industry Forums, Food from Britain, the International Agriculture Technology Centre and the Agriculture Development Scheme.
The aim of the review was to take stock of what had been achieved so far and to identify what more needed to be done, and the structures that needed to be put in place, to ensure that the industry takes action to benefit both from the tools and techniques that had been developed, and from working together more collaboratively.
Defra also wanted to ensure that Exchequer funding was directed to achieve SFFS (Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food) priorities over the next three years.
The review concludes: there can be little doubt that the work carried out is providing valuable learning and experience and that all the bodies under review have made useful contributions towards SFFS food chain goals.
However it does note that: Environmental considerations have been seen as incidental to this agenda though it is recognised that as waste gets stripped out this benefits the UK economy by making us more competitive and also cleaner. We need to know how to identify and measure win, wins through food chain work. This could be explored through future piloting and study.
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