25 March 2011

Govt 'must combat' spiralling food prices
The government has failed to lay out a plan to tackle spiralling food prices, a report has said.

The independent Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) branded coalition policies on sustainable food as "insubstantial" in the face of the growing crises of obesity, climate change and environmental damage.

"Budget cuts to local and central government will inevitably diminish public sector capacities to continue the (albeit sometimes faltering) steps in the right direction of a sustainable food system," it stated.

Food production is likely to come under increased pressure in the coming years if fuel prices continue to rise and the world's population increases.

The SDC said that health secretary Andrew Lansley's 'responsibility deals', consulting businesses on plans to tackle obesity, are "weak and lack defined goals and adequate monitoring".

The report examined developments in the past ten years and found there had been positive steps but not enough "systematic change" under Labour.

It recommended the government prioritise combating the decline in UK food production, reduce the reliance on grainstuffs in the meat and dairy industry and create local food partnerships.

The SDC also backed reducing food waste - including zero food waste in landfills by 2015, teaching cooking and food growing in schools, and mandating health and sustainability standards in food.

Tim Lang, the SDC's food commissioner and professor at the Centre for Food Policy, City University, recommended the government adopt a 'hands-on' approach.

"The challenge of feeding growing populations healthily while minimising environmental damage - particularly as food and fuel prices continue to rise - should remind governments that this is not a time to step away from tackling our food system," he said.

"Obesity and climate change are two huge market failures. Our review of the last decade shows that progress requires the hands-on participation of governments - not a 'leave it to the market' approach."

Mary Creagh, shadow environment secretary, said the government should not leave sustainable food "to chance".

"Families are feeling the squeeze from food prices which are rising three times faster in the UK than in other major countries," she commented.

"This final report from the Sustainable Development Commission is a damning indictment of the Tory-led government's inaction on food prices and security of supply.

"Feeding our nation should not be left to chance. It is time for DEFRA to show some national and international leadership on the health, social and environmental challenges facing the food industry."

The report will be one of the last acts of the SDC, which has had its funding withdrawn by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as part of the funding cuts across government departments.

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