Food, farming and hospitality sectors should work together to mutual benefit, according to National Farmers Union President Minette Batters. Launching a new report based on research with consumers and businesses, the report showcases the British food and drink story and how farmers and the supply chain working together can add value to businesses.

She said: “Whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat on the go, discussing business over lunch or celebrating an important event, eating out is central to everyday life, with iconic products and brands playing a huge role in keeping the nation fed. “Hospitality in the UK is recognised as one of the finest in the world, but the sector, like British farming, has faced huge challenges over the past 18 months against a backdrop of record levels of inflation, coupled with the cost of living crisis, and coming just months after struggling through the pandemic which impacted so many hospitality businesses. “British farming, food, and hospitality are intrinsically linked, and this report sets out our vision on how British food can add vale to hospitality brands, and why they should build the farming story into their businesses. “Developing relationships between the out of home sector and British farmers and growers will create even more opportunities to serve up local food that is safe and fully traceable, providing the provenance the public increasingly appreciates – as well as helping to strengthen our domestic food security.

“The NFU will continue these conversations by holding further roundtable discussions in order to engage with all aspects of the UK’s diverse hospitality sector.” The NFU brought together industry leaders and operators for a roundtable discussion to launch the report and to hear how sustainability and “supporting local” holds a firm place in the public’s buying choices. Organisations represented at the roundtable included: UK Hospitality, the Royal Society of Culinary Arts, Green King, Hawksmoor, the Zero Carbon Forum, WRAP, Peach2020, AHDB and NFU Cymru. The discussion acknowledged the multiple benefits of purchasing British food and drink and working more closely with Britain’s farmers and growers. The discussion also focussed upon how we can showcase British food production standards, create more relationships between businesses, farmers, chefs, and consumers, alongside how we can tackle big issues such as sustainability ambitions and supply chain challenges.

Design, print and marketing business Systematic has launched a new design agency oodle at its headquarters in Caistor, Lincolnshire. Previously part of its existing company, the design studio has now been given a new identity and will operate as a separate brand while remaining under the Systematic umbrella. Director James Walker explained: “We’ve been offering graphic design services for over 20 years and we’re proud of how the Studio has grown both in terms of people and skills. Our designers are keen to put their collective skills and expertise to the best possible use for the benefit of our clients, which is why we’ve decided to do something completely different and launch oodle – the new name for everything creative at Systematic!” Graphic designer Steve Goy, who has been working at Systematic for over 13 years, said he hopes the new brand will help them attract more high calibre design-led projects. “The Systematic brand has a great heritage, but it also has connotations of systems and processes rather than free-flowing thought and creativity,” said Steve. “With that in mind, we have created a new brand for the Systematic design service, oodle, which has positive connotations, linking to ‘oodles’, which means ‘lots of’. It is also a warm, friendly and playful word, which characterises the team’s personality.”

The drive to net zero emissions has taken a significant step forward with the offer of awards for 20 carbon storage licences at offshore sites, including some near Aberdeen, Teesside, Liverpool and Lincolnshire. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) launched the UK’s first-ever carbon storage licensing round in June 2022, with applications closing in September. The 20 licences in total are around 12,000 square kilometres in size, a little bigger than Yorkshire, the UK’s largest county. Once the new storage sites are in operation – and in some cases first injection could come in as little as six years – they could make a significant contribution to the aim of storing up to 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year by 2030, approximately 10% of total UK annual emissions, which were 341.5 million tonnes in 2021. The offers come in the wake of the Chancellor’s Budget announcement that the Government is allocating up to £20 billion in support of developing carbon capture, usage and storage, starting with projects in the East Coast, Merseyside and North Wales. He added that this would pave the way for CCS as the UK approaches 2050. This first carbon storage licensing round is likely to be the first of many as up to 100 CO2 stores could be needed for the UK to meet the net zero by 2050 target. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in April 2022 emphasised that carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are necessary for power and industry sectors to reach net zero emissions. It is also supported by the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget which emphasises the vital role that carbon storage must play in the UK’s path to net zero. The licences include a range of geological store types and were selected following a process which considered attributes such as the geology, proximity to existing infrastructure – as is found at Bacton off the coast of Norfolk – and links to industrial clusters which are expecting carbon storage to help meet decarbonisation goals. The need to share offshore space with other users of the seabed such as wind developers and petroleum operations was also considered as part of the NSTA’s licensing process, recognising the need for both early engagement and continued collaboration between existing licence and leaseholders where an area of the seabed is a key resource area for different sectors. The future success of the CCS industry requires close co-operation between a number of organisations, and once a licence has been awarded by the NSTA, the licensee also needs to obtain a seabed lease from The Crown Estate or Crown Estate Scotland before a project can progress. Further consents and approvals will be required ahead of any appraisal activity taking place on carbon storage licences. Stuart Payne, NSTA Chief Executive, said: “This is an exciting and important day. As a nation, we cannot meet our decarbonisation targets without carbon storage. This is net zero delivery in action. “The awards we offer today could store around 10% of the UK’s emissions, and through our engagement with applicants, we will have committed work plans in place such as seismic surveys and drilling of wells – we are working with industry to move at real pace. “The UK’s offshore waters remain the crown jewel of our energy mix, providing energy security, emissions reduction and carbon storage. This will require more and more integration and collaboration in a crowded space, and we are working closely with governments and agencies such as The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland to ensure we maximise this amazing potential. “We look forward to working with these licensees to make these projects a reality as soon as possible and to opening more carbon storage rounds in the near future – my thanks to our teams and industry for their great work, but this is just the beginning.”