The aim of the unit is to match France and Germany, which both currently export more than double the UK in terms of the value of food and drink.
It will bring together experts in exports and investment from Defra and across Government to help more businesses sell their world class produce around the globe.
Liz Truss: “It is vital for our economic future that we make British food and farming all it can be – over the next five years we will do that by backing big business, supporting punchy start-ups and embracing our rich food heritage.”
Marking the launch of the Unit, UK breakfast cereal giant Weetabix, a success story for foreign investment, has today pledged to source all of its wheat from local farmers, helping guarantee the quality of their wholegrain wheat, supporting our growing rural economy and protecting the environment.
During a visit to the Weetabix factory, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:
“We produce more new food products each year than France and Germany combined. My long term aspiration is for the UK to match both these countries in terms of the value of exports so our food and drink becomes a worldwide phenomenon.
"Through the creation of the new Great British Food Unit companies large and small will now find it easier to export overseas and receive foreign investment."
The launch of the new unit comes as the Government announced 2016 as the Year of Great British Food. It also follows last November’s launch of the first food and drink pioneers who will promote the very best in British food across the country and overseas inspiring people everywhere to choose British.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “With 2016 being designated the year of British food, I am encouraged by the Government’s move in establishing a unit which will help promote and celebrate great British food. Anything which can showcase British farming and farmers, not just for they food they produce, but for the value the British farming industry adds to the economy, employment and our beautiful and diverse countryside is a step in the right direction.
“What I want to see now is more export markets being made available to British farmers to sell to countries such as China, Japan, the USA and Saudi Arabia. Over the past 18 months, all sectors, particularly livestock and dairy have been under financial pressure from low prices. That’s why we need to create more opportunities to get more great British products into new global markets.
?“I am also pleased that the unit will focus on apprenticeships and entrepreneurialism. Business management and leadership skills are crucial to taking agricultural businesses forward and improving performance to achieve a professional and efficient workforce. The NFU, as part of the AgriSkills forum, will help ensure that training is easily accessible and affordable for farm businesses.”
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) estimate exports of manufactured goods alone will go up by a third to £6 billion by 2020.
Ian Wright CBE, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation, said: "We strongly share the Government’s commitment to making the UK the investment destination of choice, and agree that a growing and sustainable food and drink industry is vital to our shared economic future. Through the industry and Government partnership promised by the unit - kicked off in this, the Year of Great British Food - we will work to give Britain’s makers, bakers and bottlers the support they need to thrive."
Over the next five years the Great British Food Unit will focus on:
- Helping more entrepreneurs start exporting for the first time.
- Supporting further FDI into the UK food industry.
- Securing and maintaining access for UK meat and dairy products to markets like China, Africa and South America.
- Helping treble the number of apprenticeships in the food and drink industry to bring new skills and ideas so the pace of innovation continues to accelerate.
- Increasing the number of Protected Food Names from 64 to 200 to celebrate the rich heritage and iconic traditions of British food, building on the importance consumers place on provenance.