The NFU has worked closely with her to develop the Bill which would amend two existing Acts of Parliament relating to requirements to be followed in public procurement. These include the need for a contracting authority to consider what proportion of the food originates from the UK.
Public procurement is the purchase of goods and services on behalf of a public authority, such as a government agency.
In December 2023, the NFU published its manifesto ‘Farming for Britain’s Future’, calling on a future government to identify opportunities to increase our market share of foods the country could produce sustainably, including a commitment to source half of food eaten in the public sector from British farms. The reporting of the origin of public sector sourced food is essential to monitor progress towards this ambition.
NFU Deputy President David Exwood said: “This would guarantee more British farmers and growers delivering high quality, fresh, seasonal and affordable food to world-leading environmental and welfare standards into our schools, prisons, hospitals and the military.
“Despite spending £2.4 billion on the the public procurement of food, disappointingly, there is currently no record of what proportion of this food is currently supplied by British farmers and growers,” he added.
“We know there is huge support across the country for food served in the public sector to be British,” David added, citing the NFU’s research, carried out by Deltapoll, which found that 76% of the public want the government to commit to sourcing at least half of all food for schools, prisons and hospitals from British farms.
