Future of food: shifting diets and the UK's net-zero target

Panel discussion chaired by Archie Norman, Chairman of M&S on the topic of shifting diets in light of the UK’s net-zero target and whether more plant-based or climate-friendly diets are likely to be a core component of the UK’s strategy.

Participants

Chair:

• Archie Norman, Chairman, Marks and Spencer

Panellists:

• Toby Park, Principal Advisor, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Behavioural Insights Team
• Kirsty Saddler, Sustainability & Value Director, Leon Restaurants
• Jack Watts, Agri-food Policy Delivery Manager, National Farmers' Union
• Helen Harwatt, Food and Climate Policy Fellow at Harvard University Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House

The panel discussed:

Connection between global dietary shifts and sustainability and climate change

• There are differences in demographics in terms of shifts and motivation behind dietary changes. For example, older populations are more interested in health impacts whilst younger generations are more interested in environmental impacts. In the UK, animal welfare generally outweighs the environmental impacts of food in consumer decision making and the price of items is also an important factor.

Producers and farmers are key to the conversation on achieving more sustainable, healthy food

• Reducing emissions in agriculture is increasingly high on the policy agenda. Beyond carbon mitigation, the discussion is turning to carbon opportunity loss of land used for agriculture and potential for sequestration if returned to native vegetation. Farmers have a key role to play in the transition. Encouraging climate friendly food requires a range of measures rather than just demonising specific food groups. Beyond the UK’s role as a producer, half of food consumed in the UK is imported, so the UK needs to look at the impact of production beyond its borders.

Government intervention can be successful

• There is a precedent for government intervention on food issues although these have generally been applied from a health perspective - for example differentiated VAT, sugar taxation, advertising bans, and limits on alcohol content. Participants stressed that it is important that future policies are palatable, positive and encourage incremental steps that take into account the role of producers to ensure their needs and challenges are addressed.