A blog from our Executive Director, Dan Crossley (July 2026)
One year on from the launch of the UK Government’s Food Strategy for England, the ‘Good Food Cycle’ (as it’s known) has had a bumpy ride.
15th July 2025 was the date when the Food Strategy was launched by then minister Daniel Zeichner, in Bradford. It identified 10 priority outcomes, grouped into four areas: (i) healthier and more affordable food (ii) good growth (iii) sustainable and resilient supply and (iv) vibrant food cultures.
It offers “a recipe aimed at driving a generational change in the nation’s relationship with food.”
It would be unfair and unrealistic to expect major food system transformation in just twelve months, but nonetheless I’d describe progress since as “underwhelming”. There has been progress at the strategic level – with the subsequent Ten Year Health Plan, Land Use Framework and 25-year Farming Roadmap – but we have seen very few concrete policies that translate to tangible change for people in rural and urban communities across England.
There are lots of legitimate reasons for the lack of bold policies – including focus being taken away by dealing with international conflicts, and by huge amounts of Defra civil servant work on the UK-EU SPS agreement, combined with political uncertainty and re-shuffles (with secretaries of state at Defra averaging 12 months over the last ten years; and the third food security and rural affairs minister in a year potentially treading water until the impending government reshuffle likely with the incoming Prime Minster). But we can’t wait for political and geopolitical calm. That won’t come any time soon. UK Government has to get on with the food system transformation needed.
“…we can’t wait for political and geopolitical calm. That won’t come any time soon. UK Government has to get on with the food system transformation needed.”
The better news? The diagnosis of the problems is well articulated in the Good Food Cycle – building on Henry Dimbleby’s prior work and incorporating Professor Tim Lang’s excellent work on resilience. The Citizen Advisory Council has opportunity to play an important role in shaping policy, ensuring that policy influence is not limited to major food industry bodies. There is also a window of opportunity during the upcoming honeymoon period for the new Prime Minister to do something big and bold on food systems.
We at the Food Ethics Council want fair and inclusive policymaking that delivers resilient, fair food systems for people, animals and the planet. Part of that involves taking the long view and addressing root causes. That’s why we’re hosting our Roots and Routes series – exploring root causes and unlocking fairer routes, or pathways, forward. For those interested in joined-up approaches, join our ‘When policies collide’ webinar on 16th September 2026 and our ‘When policies align’ online workshop on 1st October 2026 (with speakers from Corinna Hawkes, FAO to former Defra Secretary of State, George Eustice).
I spoke about ‘The Good Food Cycle, one year on’ at a webinar hosted by the Global Food and Environment Institute at the University of Leeds (which I am on the External Advisory Board for) in early July 2026. The full webinar video is available to view on YouTube HERE or in the video below.