Food and Drink

Introduction

As the single largest manufacturing sector in the UK, the food and drinks sector has an annual turnover of over £67 billion, with exports worth £8.9 billion and employs some 500,000 people in the UK. The food and drinks sector is a major part of the food chain and comprises agriculture and fishing, food and drink manufacturing, distribution and warehousing, wholesaling, retail, foodservice and catering. For more information click here.

Besides playing a critical role in supporting the health of the UK economy, the food and drink industry has a major role to play maintaining the health of the population and of the environment. The high quality of much of the UK’s produce is linked directly to clean waters, healthy habitats and an abundance of plants and animals. Safeguarding these natural assets builds the competitive advantage for food and drink companies, and ensures the long term survival of their businesses.

Uses of & Impacts on Biodiversity

In the UK agriculture occupies some 76% of land. The food and drink industry is dependent on agriculture, which in turn requires natural resources, processes and a genetic base for crops. Healthy ecosystems and the biodiversity within them are essential for long term sustainability. Farming has historically played an important role in shaping the UK countryside and farmers have a great record of looking after the rural environment. Areas valued by visitors and important to conservation, such as designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) owe much to the rural management by farmers. Many of the main features of the farmed landscape throughout the UK support a wide range of biodiversity and farming can impact on biodiversity in both positive and negative ways. Additionally, wild food sources, such as game and fish, also impact on biodiversity.

Other companies operating in the food industry, particularly processing, manufacturing and retail markets, also impact on biodiversity. Food production companies can make a difference to biodiversity in terms of where and how they source the food they produce as well as through their packaging and transportation decisions. Most food-packaging today comes from paper or plastic products and includes everything from the wrappers on sandwiches or crisp-packets through to cellophane wrapping on pallet-loads of cereal boxes! Paper and cardboard sources vary from those made of wood pulp coming from a variety of forests, to recycled paper. Plastics impact on biodiversity through the oil-production and processing business and also because of the challenges associated with disposing of them afterwards.

During the twenty years from 1978, food miles – the distance which food is transported - increased by 50% in the UK and now some 40% of all road freight is food. International food transport has nearly doubled. The distance food is shipped not only influences biodiversity through the transportation process itself – through fuel consumption and pollution, the provision of transport infrastructure and effects of pollution. Biodiversity is also affected because of the way in which food which travels long distances has to be prepared and packaged. The global food market places additional demands on growers supplying supermarkets, who are expected to deliver uniform-quality products with a long shelf life. This can make business for specialist producers, such as organic farmers difficult and may result in wastage of non-standard products.

Acting between growers and manufacturers of food on one hand and consumers on the other, the food retail sector is in an influential position.

What You Can Do

Food and drinks companies can make a significant impact through action on the ground, delivering real biodiversity results.

Sustainable food production
One of the first steps towards improving biodiversity in the food and drink sector is to begin to understand where your company fits into the whole picture, from rural communities and the production systems supporting their economies through to end-consumer markets. For companies positioning themselves inside a sustainability framework, biodiversity becomes an intrinsic part of doing business, with benefits flowing to both the company as well as to biodiversity.

Working with Stakeholders
A complex and long chain of relationships from producer to consumer means that networking and working with others is one of the keys to success in the food and drinks industry. Engagement with suppliers provides a powerful mechanism not only for spelling out what is required by them, but opening dialogue about sustainable production methods and ways in which to improve biodiversity performance. Suppliers can gain insight into and support for new products or innovations through working with their clients, helping to test out new products and ideas before making investment commitments. Collaboration between industry, retailers, NGOs and government agencies can benefit businesses all along the supply chain while developing new methods for meeting food requirements for existing as well as future demands.

In any area there are many different organisations which a company can link up with in order to explore issues and solutions about biodiversity. Working with such groups through networks and forums helps keep one’s finger on the pulse of what is going on and share resources, experience and knowledge. For more information (see Organisations).

Promoting your Biodiversity Action
Many companies realise that the UK’s landscape and environment provides unique marketing opportunities for their products. Additional opportunities exist to enhance the product value through employing sustainable practices which improve the quality of the foods and drinks produced.

Certification through food labelling schemes can also be a valuable instrument for marketing products and building up brand image. Labels can help build consumer confidence in products and help to differentiate them from other similar products.

Employee Innovation
Many companies have found that biodiversity provides a powerful medium for engaging employees and motivating them. Many companies today are competing for a highly qualified work force with high expectations of their employers. With environmental awareness and concern rising, particularly among younger employees, being seen as a reputable company which cares for nature, sustainability and its employees is a draw for talent. For more information on how to engage employees click here.

Benefits

Food and drink are basic human needs. The consequences of unsustainable farming and food production practices are too severe and risky to be worth contemplating. The only solution to securing healthy and safe food supplies for UK’s and world populations is by ensuring that the food and drink industry becomes and remains sustainable.

Sustainable production not only benefits biodiversity but provides a return back to the production system itself through healthier, better quality food and drink. Real marketing benefits of sustainably produced foods have already been demonstrated through the rising sales of various companies. It also makes good business sense to insure the very productive systems on which the industry depends.

Case Studies

Click here to view case studies from the Food and drink sector.

Resources

Information
Agrifood Forum provides a network of key information sources on agri-food production and consumption, related environmental impacts and practices to prevent or respond to these impacts.

Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is the voice of the UK food and drink manufacturing industry.

Food standards agency (FSA) is an independent food safety watchdog set up to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

Initiatives
Freedom Foods farm assurance and food labelling scheme, set up by the RSPCA in 1994.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries brings together the fishing industry, retailers, consumers and conservationists to solve the problems of global over fishing and damaged marine ecosystems.

The Rural Stewardship Scheme (RSS) is designed to encourage farmers, crofters and common grazing committees to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to maintain and enhance particular habitats and landscape features.

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) exists to provide farmers, landowners and our other clients with the best opportunity for environmental gain through cost effective, quality solutions.

Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) helps farmers improve their environment and business performance.

Eat the View: Promoting Sustainable Local Products aims to help people make the links between the products they buy and the countryside they cherish.

Publications
Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food: Facing the Future is the Government strategy for England.

The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food's report is a major contribution to a new strategy for sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming, fully integrated with the rest of the food chain and taking into account the needs of the environment and rural economy.

Photo Credits: Natalie Fobes/Skagit Watershed Council, Will Peskett/Diageo