Key Takeaways
A new report has been released outlining a comprehensive plan for the UK food sector to achieve ambitious net-zero targets by 2050. The report, titled “A Net Zero Transition Plan for the UK Food System,” was commissioned by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) and developed in collaboration with consultants EY and WRAP, a global environmental NGO. It offers an in-depth, evidence-based view of how the UK food system can drastically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Urgent Need for Change
The UK’s food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector, contributing over £100 billion to the GDP and providing 4.4 million jobs. However, it also accounts for 30% of the UK’s total territorial emissions. A large portion of these emissions comes from agriculture, along with significant contributions from energy and logistics. The report highlights the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the current system to meet the UK’s legally binding climate targets. Transitioning to net zero is not just an environmental imperative, it’s also essential for human and planetary health and ensuring the long-term resilience of the food industry.
Key Findings and Recommendations
The report emphasizes that achieving net-zero by 2050 will require immediate and coordinated action across the entire food system. It provides a framework for the food sector to achieve a 70% reduction in agricultural emissions and to completely decarbonize heat, electricity, and transport. Key recommendations include:
- Government Action: The IGD outlines 19 steps the government can take, focusing on strengthening policy for farming and energy. This includes supporting the domestic farming transition and setting new standards for food imports. The report also calls for increased green financial incentives for UK farmers to drive climate-positive practices in imported food supply chains.
- Industry Collaboration: The plan stresses the need for businesses across the food supply chain to work together to achieve these ambitious goals. This includes prioritising emissions reduction, investing in sustainable practices, and collaborating with the farming community.
- Supply-Side Transformation: The plan calls for a major transformation in all aspects of the food system’s supply side. This includes high adoption of lower-carbon farming practices, effective regulation, and processes to eliminate deforestation from supply chains. It also includes major investment in infrastructure for renewable energy, zero-emission logistics, and low-carbon heating and cooling.
- Demand-Side Changes: The report indicates that supply-side measures alone are not enough to meet climate goals. It highlights the need for a shift in consumer diets towards lower-carbon options, such as pulses, and away from red meat and dairy. A reduction in food waste, particularly by households, is also seen as essential. The plan suggests that a 20% reduction in red meat and dairy consumption is needed by 2050.
The Path to Net Zero: A Multi-Faceted Approach
The report details a multifaceted approach for achieving net-zero, highlighting the interconnectedness of various elements within the food system. Here are some crucial areas:
Agriculture
- Transition to Lower-Carbon Farming: The report emphasizes the need for farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices, including those that reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in soils.
- Financial Incentives for Farmers: Increased green financial support is critical for helping farmers make the necessary transitions and to ensure the future of the UK food and farming sector.
- Sustainable Imports: The plan highlights the importance of ensuring a level playing field between domestic and imported food, avoiding the off-shoring of emissions and ensuring that imported products meet high environmental standards.
Energy and Transport
- Decarbonising Energy: The report calls for a move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources for electricity and heat generation.
- Zero-Emission Logistics: Major investment is required in infrastructure to support zero-emission logistics, reducing emissions related to the transportation of food.
Food Waste Reduction
- Halving Food Waste: The report emphasizes the critical role of reducing food waste, particularly by households. Halving food waste by 2030, as per UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, could remove about five percent of all food-related emissions.
- The Courtauld Commitment 2030: The report builds upon industry commitments such as the Courtauld Commitment 2030, which aims to deliver a 50% absolute reduction in GHG emissions associated with food and drink consumed in the UK by 2030.
Dietary Change
- Shifting to Plant-Based Diets: The report points out that a shift away from meat-heavy diets is necessary for the food system to achieve its net-zero goals. It highlights that a moderate shift towards lower carbon foods like pulses and away from red meat and dairy is needed.
- The Eatwell Guide: The plan suggests using the NHS Eatwell Guide as a basis for promoting healthy and sustainable diets.
- Protein Transition: The report calls for the industry to commit to a protein transition, by which consumers shift from meat based protein to plant based protein sources.
Challenges and Opportunities
The report acknowledges that achieving these net-zero targets will be extremely challenging, requiring urgent focus and partnership throughout the system. However, it also presents significant opportunities:
- Innovation: The transition to net-zero will drive innovation across the food system, leading to new technologies and sustainable practices.
- Economic Growth: Investing in a green and sustainable food system could also lead to economic growth and job creation.
- Improved Health: Promoting healthier and more sustainable diets will have a positive impact on public health.
The Role of the IGD
The IGD is playing a pivotal role in bringing together the food industry to address climate change. They are committed to accelerating progress towards a sustainable and resilient food system and they are convening stakeholders and mobilizing the industry to tackle the net-zero transition. This new report represents a critical step in unifying the food industry around the aim of accelerating progress in emissions reduction.
Next Steps
The release of the “Net Zero Transition Plan” marks the beginning of a new phase of collective action. The IGD and its partners are committed to working with the industry and government to develop and implement the plan. It will require significant and rapid changes across the entire food supply chain, from farming to consumption. While the path ahead will be challenging, it is essential to ensuring a sustainable and secure food system for the future.
The report serves as a call to action for the entire food industry and the government to work together to achieve the ambitious net-zero goals. The plan includes costings, which will help inform cost at an organization level, and a proposed set of asks to the government for action and policy, which are intended to mitigate risk and support longer term planning.
