Food Ethics Council

The Food Ethics Council challenges government, business and society to make wise choices that lead to better food and farming. Uniquely, we focus on how choices are made and we champion decisions that are:

• Principled – aiming to benefit people, animals and the planet, and to treat each fairly and with dignity.
• Informed – based on sound knowledge and diverse experience, but ready for surprises.
• Inclusive – involving and answerable to the people they affect.

Who we are

We are a charity and our work is not for profit. We are not affiliated to any political party or religious organisation. Our fifteen council members – all leaders in relevant fields – are appointed as individuals. They bring a broad range of expertise to our work, from academic research through to practical knowledge of farming, business and policy.

What we do

We work as an independent think tank and advisory body, challenging government, business and the public on ethical issues and championing better decision-making. Our members lead this work in a voluntary capacity and our staff support them through research, analysis and advocacy. We publish reports and a magazine, we organise deliberative workshops and events, and we develop tools for ethical decision-making. We extend our reach by working with others, including public bodies, companies, campaign groups and research institutes.

What we work on

We focus on how choices are made about difficult problems and emerging controversies. Our work has spanned genetically modified foods, drug use in farm animals, public involvement in science, functional foods, gene-tailored diets, patents and poverty, farm subsidies and food transport. Our work starts in the UK but its scope is global.

Who funds us

Donations from foundations and individuals make our work possible. We also fund our work by selling publications, organising events and undertaking research. We only accept support that does not compromise our independence. The organisation was established in 1998 with support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and the Farm and Food Society. We became a company limited by guarantee in 2000 (No. 03901671) and registered as a charity in February 2004 (No. 1101885).