UK Government’s National Food Strategy must prioritise plant-based food

Labour’s planned new strategy should support healthy, sustainable food options

Healthy, climate-friendly, plant-based food must be at the centre of the new National Food Strategy planned by the UK’s Labour Government for the first half of 2025, the Plant-based Food Alliance UK (PBFA) said today.

“The long-term success of the food strategy requires that plant-based food is at the epicentre, ensuring that the food system is geared towards providing healthy, climate-friendly food for future generations which also boosts economic growth and productivity,” Marisa Heath, the PBFA’s CEO, said. 

“Promoting plant-based food, and tackling the overconsumption of meat and dairy, requires decisive action and Labour’s National Food Strategy offers the opportunity for that action to be taken,” Heath added.

The UK already has one of Europe’s largest plant-based food markets and a large part of the population identify as “flexitarian”, meaning that they are intentionally reducing their daily meat consumption, often for health, environmental or animal welfare reasons. 

Both schools¹ and universities across the UK are increasingly embracing plant-based meals as they seek to improve the healthiness² of meals as well as the climate impact. 

Plant-based products sold in the UK have also been found to be nutritionally compatible or superior to their animal-based counterparts³. 

“The documented scientific evidence continues to stack up, showing that plant-based foods are the healthiest options as well as the best option for the environment. The Government must take this chance to embrace plant-based foods, as countries like Denmark⁴ have done, and set the country on a steady path of dietary transition,” Heath added. 

Support for farmers vital 

Support for farmers in the form of subsidies and incentives are also vital to ensure an increase in sustainable crop production and diversification in the UK, allowing for more alternative protein to be grown on UK soil. 

As well as incentives, farmers need knowledge and infrastructure systems to diversify toward more sustainable agricultural practices and products.

“We need an holistic approach to the National Food Strategy if we want it to be a success and that involves looking at how we can bolster plant-based food production and consumption from the farmer’s field to the consumer’s fork,” Heath added. 

ENDS

Footnotes

1. Five Million UK School Meals Go Meat-free – ProVeg UK

2. Sustainable eating is cheaper and healthier – Oxford study | University of Oxford

3. Plant-based meat and milk have similar or better nutrient profiles compared to animal-based counterparts, analysis finds | ProVeg International

4. How Denmark Made The Plant-Based Action Plan Possible

Note to Editors

For media inquiries, email Marisa Heath at the Alliance at: [email protected]

About the Plant-based Food Alliance UK

The Plant-based Food Alliance UK is a coalition of organisations including Oatly, Alpro, Upfield, The Vegan Society, Good Food Institute and ProVeg who have come together to create a strong voice for the plant-based food sector in the UK.

The Alliance represents food and drink producers, manufacturers, non-governmental organisations, retailers, nutritionists, academic bodies, and consumer organisations in influencing policy makers to develop legislation and Government positions that support the growth of plant-based foods. 

Working with farmers and businesses through to retailers and consumers, the Alliance wants to deliver a healthier and more sustainable food system that sees a shift away from intensive animal farming.