Poultry industry urges integrated approach to food security

Meeting at a House of Commons roundtable event this morning (Wednesday 28 March), attended by MPs, poultry meat farmers and producers called for an integrated British food security policy for the public.

The meeting examined how the poultry sector could work with government to build an integrated British food security policy that could help feed everyone, including the most vulnerable.

Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council (BPC), said: “With the economic and social pressures being created by Brexit, access to food will become one of our nation’s biggest challenges in the coming years. If the mission of Britain is to lead, then we must take pride in producing good-quality food and feeding our people, including those most in need.”​

Those speaking at the event also included: Jenny Chapman MP, shadow minister for exiting the EU; Neil Parish MP, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee; John Reed, chairman of the BPC; Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare; and Andrew Gimson, author and contributing editor at Conservative Home​.

Secure food​

Griffiths said it was vital that everyone had access to secure food.

“Every person in this country should be able to expect access to a secure supply of food, whether that is as an everyday customer in a supermarket, a patient in hospital or child in school, or someone who needs help from a charity or foodbank.​

“If we can create a system that feeds the most vulnerable in our society, then that is a system that can feed everyone and maintain our sovereign capability. To achieve that needs a strong partnership between government, business, and the voluntary sector.​

“British poultry meat farmers and producers ​are passionate about our Great British Food Values, which set us apart from the rest of the world. We want to work with government to translate those values into action ​and successfully deliver an integrated British food security policy ​for the good of society and the prosperity of our wider economy.”​

Lindsay Boswell, chief executive of FareShare, said poultry farmers could help by increasing supply to those who needed it. BPC members currently donate approximately three tonnes of poultry every week and have a target of 10t.

“FareShare is really proud of its partnership with the British Poultry Council. Poultry meat is in extremely high demand among the frontline charities and community groups that we serve – that’s why we’re encouraging BPC members to help increase our weekly supply. ​

“This will in turn help FareShare to feed thousands more people every day, providing hot nutritious meals to adults and children across the UK who struggle to afford good food, especially meat. We look forward to the year ahead, working with the BPC and their members to help ensure everyone in the UK has access to food and the services they need to lift themselves out of poverty.”​