Environment audit committee report – “sustainable food”
Article Type: Features From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 23, Issue 6.
The UK's Environmental Audit Committee has published its report on sustainable food. Its member MPs conclude that “Government must develop a joined-up strategy to change the UK's unhealthy and environmentally damaging food system, as fears mount about global food security”.
The authors argue that the Government's Green Food Project could provide part of the answer, but is not covering all aspects of sustainability, and risks delivering a food policy which focuses too much on increasing yields at the expense of delivering a fairer and a more equitable food system. It is their opinion that it could be used as a foundation for the joined-up cross-departmental food strategy which is required to deliver a food system in the UK that is sustainable and takes account of people's health and the needs of their communities, as well as the environment. In particular, they argue that food strategy must:
- 1.
provide producers (including local and small producers) with fair access to markets, and customers with access to healthy and less environmentally impacting foods (including local food networks); and
- 2.
provide consumers with the knowledge and information they need to make informed choices about food that is better for their health and the environment and reduces waste; and deliver research in the priority areas which we have identified, to improve and develop existing agricultural, food processing and distribution practices with fewer environmental impacts.
The document can be seen at:www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmenvaud/879/87902.htm
