Short-term planning, a lack of continuity and an unwillingness to tackle the underlying issues are at the root of a lack of trust in Government, says JP Garnier.
The 2026 Red Tractor Trust in Food indicator reveals that 94% of the British population now trust British food, a stunning result and the outcome of a regular increase in confidence. Simply, this positive perception is due to the result of sustained, sterling efforts from producers, processors, retailers and, let’s not forget it, allied industries over many years, ensuring that British food bought in supermarkets and butchers is safe, nutritious and of high quality.
So how come the British food system is regularly bashed in the media and academia, and denigrated by lobbies? Notwithstanding poor science, exaggerations and vested interests at play, some criticisms may be valid, as shown by dietary issues such as the overwhelming importance of overprocessed foods in British diets, particularly for youngsters, excessive snacking and limited cooking from scratch, resulting in rising levels of obesity.
Meanwhile, in sharp contrast to this high trust in British food, the latest survey of the National Centre for Social Research indicates that trust in Government has plummeted to 12% of the British population. Reasons are self-explanatory. The latest example is provided by the political shenanigans and the nomination on 12th June as Minister for food and farming of the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth South – not a noted rural constituency – a gentleman with defence procurement, veterans and social care expertise.
The full title of his position remains Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs. I have previously bemoaned the incongruity of the title, which does not befit the position of recent Governments hellbent on hollowing out British farming. Note that this represents the third minister for food of the current administration, one more interested in adhering to unrealistic and damaging environmental goals than ensuring that British households put affordable, wholesome and locally produced food on their plates, backed by a thriving agri-food chain.
What has been Government’s most recent response to the worsening farming crisis, the obesity crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the geopolitical crisis? Yes, you heard it right, price control and a voluntary price cap on staples are the solutions presented by the Westminster and Holyrood Governments. No wonder retailers, which know a thing or two regarding food prices, reacted with disbelief, with Marks & Spencer describing the proposal as “completely preposterous”.
The short-lived scheme reflects the erring ways of Governments at a loss in developing credible food and farming policy. If we take the example of the price of milk, an item the Treasury wanted supermarkets to price cap, current farmgate prices have dropped from 46p a litre last September to 34p, with many dairy farmers losing money at this level. This simply does not make sense.
“To govern is to plan ahead,” French journalist Emile de Girardin once famously said. In spite of some inaccuracies, Defra’s 464 page-long 2024 Food Security Report correctly details the importance of inputs for food security. The analysis highlights the tensions on the fertiliser market, the implications of the lack of home production of CO2 and diesel fuel, the high energy prices and even cardboard supplies. Accordingly, the latest geopolitical developments and their impacts on the availability and price of inputs are affecting UK consumer food prices and weigh heavily on the profitability of farmers and processors.
Yet, the lack of action following the report regarding strategic capacity investment and fertiliser reserve is plain to see. Action rather than tinkering on the real issues is needed before the next crisis hits these shores.
