The British Poultry meat industry has called for food security for all at a breakfast roundtable attended by parliamentarians, the food industry and organisations working directly with tackling food poverty at the House of Commons on 28 March.
With poultry now half of all the meat eaten in this country, the British Poultry meat sector is at the forefront of feeding the nation. British poultry meat farmers and producers are calling for an integrated British food security policy that puts the needs of society at its heart; by bringing together food and farming, trade, and social policies to focus on what’s truly important – feeding our citizens.
The roundtable explored how responsible food sectors such as British Poultry can look beyond Brexit and work with Government to build an integrated British food security policy that can help feed everyone including the most vulnerable in our society.
Richard Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Poultry Council, 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. 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 prosperity of our wider economy.”
The British Poultry Council (BPC) works closely with Fareshare – UK’s largest food charity fighting hunger and tackling food waste. BPC members currently donate approximately 3 tonnes of poultry every week and have a target of 10 tonnes. Programmes like this are crucial to flighting food poverty and ensuring that everyone has access to the food that we are proud to produce.
Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive of FareShare said: “FareShare is really proud of its partnership with the British Poultry Council. Poultry meat is in extremely high demand amongst 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 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.”
Those speaking at the event include: 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 British Poultry Council, Richard Griffiths, Chief Executive of the British Poultry Council; Lindsay Boswell, Chief Executive of FareShare and Andrew Gimson, Author and Contributing Editor at Conservative Home.