A mix of panel discussions and ‘in conversation’ style interviews, the summit, held in the City of London, examined the government’s plans to decarbonise electricity, address the green skills gap, protect nature and food security, and encourage businesses to speed up their own transitions to net zero.
The event attracted a specially invited audience to hear from sustainability experts, environmentalists and business leaders from around the UK to debate whether the country is on course to meet its climate goals and restore Britain’s international reputation for green leadership.
Changes to our food system
NFU sustainability group lead Jack Watts was invited to speak on a panel, facilitated by journalist and broadcaster Lucy Siegle, looking at whether British businesses are ready for changes to our food system.
Also on the panel were former government adviser and author of the National Food Strategy Henry Dimbleby, Trishala Bopana, Strategy and Partnerships, Better Dairy, and Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability, John Lewis Partnership.
“It’s critical that farming is at the heart of discussions on sustainability.”
NFU sustainability group lead Jack Watts
The main points Jack highlighted during the session were:
- New government: The new Minister for Food Security, Daniel Zeichner, is working on defining food security. We are two weeks away from understanding the budget. Farmers have a job in championing the outcomes. We can deliver multiple benefits from the same piece of land.
- Polarised debate (farming and the environment): Solutions lie in the middle ground, advocating for optimism and complexity in food systems.
- Food price inflation: The complexity of food systems was emphasised, with participants stressing the importance of energy in the food sector. High gas prices have driven up food costs, pointing to the need for a more resilient, sustainable food system. Renewable energy is vital for food system resilience.
- Upland farmers: Uncertainties regarding their future under ELMs. More clarity is needed, especially for those preserving valuable landscapes, which aren’t adequately invested in.
Jack Watts and Marija Rompani also discussed the need for better government understanding of food security and its relationship with nature conservation.
Photograph: NFU sustainability group lead Jack Watts speaking at the Summit. Credit: Naomi Gabrielle
‘Critical’ farming at the heart of discussions
Afterwards, Jack was interviewed by Times Radio political commentator Theo Usherwood.
He said: “It’s critical that farming is at the heart of discussions on sustainability. Farmers and growers have a lot to offer the development of sustainable food systems and broader outcomes via SFI, but to do this, businesses need to have confidence that they can be economically sustainable.”
Among the day’s other speakers, environmentalist and vice chair of River Action, Feargal Sharkey highlighted his ongoing mission to protect England’s rivers and streams from pollution, chair of Natural England Tony Juniper spoke passionately about his vision for nature recovery, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan outlined his key environmental targets to make the capital a net zero-carbon city by 2030.
