Local food procurement targets could deliver £1bn boost for British farmers
CPRE is calling on the government to turn its commitment to local and sustainable food procurement into a binding target, unlocking a potential £1 billion annual boost for British farming.
New research from CPRE shows that sourcing 50% of public sector food from local and sustainable producers could deliver around £1 billion a year to British farmers, helping to strengthen rural economies, improve food security and support more resilient local supply chains.
The call comes as Andy Burnham attacked a procurement system that has for too long been ‘chasing cut-price deals around the world rather than helping our own British-based suppliers become more stable and competitive.’ He warned that the UK must ‘safeguard sovereign manufacturing and production capability’, naming food and farming alongside defence and steel.
We are calling on the government to use the forthcoming Food Strategy Action Plan to make good on Labour’s manifesto commitment and establish a clear, binding target for local and sustainable food sourcing across the public sector.
CPRE research published last year found that more than 1,700 farms on the edges of English towns and cities have disappeared since 2010. This represents 56,000 hectares of farmland, or an area comparable to the city of Leeds. Innovative, small- and medium-sized producers ideally situated to supply towns and cities are precisely those a reformed procurement system would protect. Examples from the UK and overseas show that local food procurement can be delivered successfully, supporting smaller producers while improving the sustainability and resilience of food systems.
Graeme Willis, CPRE’s agriculture lead and author of the report, said:
‘The cut-price procurement culture Andy Burnham criticised this week has played out for far too long on hospital menus and school dinner plates across the country. The Food Strategy Action Plan is Burnham’s opportunity to prove he means business when it comes to British farming. Investing in local producers to supply better quality food doesn’t have to cost more money, but will help secure a better future for British farmers, rural communities and our national food security. Examples from the UK and beyond show it can be done.’
Find out more in our report.
