People living or working in Greater Lincolnshire, who are involved in or have an interest in agriculture and the food chain, are being encouraged to have their say on how we produce, sell and consume food in the UK.

Under plans for a radical shake-up of the UK’s food industry, entrepreneur Henry Dimbleby is conducting an independent review to help the Government create its first National Food Strategy for 75 years.

The review will look at what is working well already and the role of new technology in revolutionising our food supply – from innovations like vertical farming and robotics, to carbon neutral manufacturing and crops that tackle climate change. No idea is too big or small to be considered.

The Government is particularly interested in four areas: how to reduce the environmental impact of the food chain; how to encourage healthier diets; how to deliver food security; and, how new agricultural technologies can deliver a step change in farm performance.

As one of the first steps, everyone from consumers, farmers and food producers, to scientists and academics, is being offered the opportunity to shape the national strategy.

Martin Collison, member of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Food Board, said: “Greater Lincolnshire plays a crucial role in providing the raw ingredients that form the backbone of our country’s food system.

“It is responsible for growing 12 per cent of England’s food and processing 70 per cent of its fish and is therefore strategically important in national food security.

“I would urge anyone with an interest in food and agriculture to take this opportunity to submit their ideas.

“These might be things that are already working well, here or abroad, and that could be scaled up or used differently. Or they might be completely new ideas: things that haven’t been tried yet at scale, but which you think have the potential to improve the system.”

The easiest way to submit your ideas is via the online survey but you can also send responses to the email or the postal address below:

foodstrategycallforevidence@defra.gov.uk

or

National Food Strategy Team
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area SE, 2nd Floor
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF.

The Call for Evidence will close on 25th October 2019. A summary of the responses will be published two weeks after the consultation closes at: www.gov.uk/defra