Policy Context

The primary context of this document is the Northwest 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the transformational actions it identifies. Other national and regional strategies and reports have been considered:-

Devolving from a global agenda is the prominence of expectations about sustainable consumption and production (“SCP”).  In the UK a stakeholder group involving representatives from the main food industry trade bodies, non-governmental organisations, and trade unions have developed the UK’s response to “SCP” for the food and drink industry which is the Food Industry Sustainability Strategy.   This identifies three priorities:- 

  • Environmental – energy use and climate change, waste water and food miles.
  • Social – nutrition and health, food safety and equal opportunities, health and safety, ethical trading.
  • Economic – science based innovation and workforce skills.  

The Government’s Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food (SSFF) was published in December 2002 in response to the report of Policy Commission “The Future of Farming and Food” chaired by Sir Donald Curry.  The SSFF sets out a new direction for the farming and food industry, based on better connections with the market place, the environment and consumers.  The North West Regional Delivery Plan for SSFF was developed by Government Office for the North West (GONW) and NWDA , plus a wide range of regional and sub-regional partners.  It was launched in September 2003.  The Sustainable Farming and Food: Forward Look published in July 2006 builds on the SSFF.  The North West Regional Delivery Plan for SSFF is currently being revised.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was reformed in 2003 and its implementation remains the key enabler for driving forward change in agricultural businesses in the medium-term.  The decoupling of subsidies from production allows farmers to re-assess what they do in order to maximise their farm’s returns from their own skills and resources.  This is likely to facilitate a more market-oriented focus to farm businesses as farmers will no longer base their decisions around what subsidies they are likely to receive but base them on what there is a market demand for.  The pressure for future CAP reform is likely to grow, as the 2003 reforms have already been built upon, with the successful conclusion of reform in the sugar sector.

The Northwest Food and Drink Strategy incorporates these priorities with a focus on growth of the sector by encouraging higher value-added activity through innovation and the application of science, through internationalisation, skills development, resource efficiency and corporate social responsibility.

 

Complementary Policies  

The Food & Drink sector overlaps with several other key sectors and priorities in the region.  It is therefore important to establish where the Northwest Food and Drink Strategy contributes to these other sectors and priorities but where actions will be determined by other strategies.  These areas include:-

Health policies.   The Northwest Food and Drink Strategy encourages the focus on how healthier food can be supplied and how its consumption will be increased.

Logistics. The Northwest Food and Drink Strategy complements efforts within the logistics sector to best utilise and support competitive and sustainable supply chains.

Landscape.   The Northwest Food and Drink Strategy encourages food businesses to consider their direct and indirect affect on the landscape of the Northwest and will promote close working with Natural England after it is created in October 2006.

Non-Food Crops.   The Northwest Food and Drink Strategy encourages agricultural businesses to consider moving into supplying the growing market for non-food crops following Defra’s Non-Food Crops Strategy.