The government’s announcement on investing in public procurement is a welcome signal of intent.
Five local authorities, Bury, Middlesbrough, Brighton and Hove, Bristol and Cambridge, will receive £155,000 each to improve their procurement, focusing on sustainable and healthier options for their local communities. These local authorities are outstanding in their procurement approaches and will use this collaborative project to trial and evaluate expansion of this work.
The NFU has long highlighted the importance of public sector buying that genuinely supports British farmers, and the commitment to source at least 50% of public sector food from British farms represents a major opportunity.
Step in the right direction
This is a step in the right direction. These local authorities, which have already achieved Gold Food for Life or Gold Sustainable Food places accreditation, will be able to use the funding to build on their strong foundations and knowledge base.
If successful across those select councils, this will hopefully deliver a guide to other authorities to help overcome some of the existing challenges in this area. Developing the right systems, standards and procurement culture provides the opportunity for meaningful shifts to back British sourcing.
To support long-term change on procurement, the NFU is calling for the following measures:
Mandatory procurement standards
Public sector buying is still heavily driven by cost and the guidance provided by GBSF (Government Buying Standards for Food). These minimum mandatory standards review, evaluate and assess food production, nutrition, resource efficiency and socio-economic impact, but compliance is not independently audited or recorded. To embed the 50% commitment into everyday decision making, procurement teams need clear, binding rules they can rely on.
‘Local’ must be clearly defined
Clarity is needed so procurement teams can act with confidence. ‘Local’ should be interpreted as regional sourcing – a practical and fair definition that supports British producers without creating unrealistic constraints.
Procurement must be opened up to SMEs
British farmers and food businesses, particularly SMEs, still face significant barriers when trying to access public sector contracts, including:
- Price pressures.
- Fragmented supply routes.
- Limited direct access to buyers.
Procurement processes must be reformed so SMEs can realistically compete. Without this, the market will continue to be dominated by a small number of large suppliers, and the benefits of the commitment will not reach the wider farming sector.
Mandatory data collection and reporting
At present, the government cannot demonstrate where public sector food is sourced from. There is no mandatory reporting, no consistent data collection, and no reliable way to track progress.
To make the 50% commitment truly credible, the government needs to introduce clear and consistent reporting requirements. That means mandatory data collection across all public sector food contracts is essential, along with clear reporting of country of origin. Procurement teams and suppliers will also need the right systems and financial support to meet these requirements without adding unnecessary burden.
A deliverable commitment, if the system is strengthened
The government’s ambition is welcome, and the NFU is committed to helping ensure it succeeds.
Mandatory standards, clear definitions, modernised procurement processes and robust data are essential. With the right framework in place, public procurement can support British farmers, strengthen domestic supply chains, and ensure the public sector serves traceable, safe, nutritious and sustainable food.
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