Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum

This conference will be a timely opportunity to discuss next steps for tackling childhood obesity in England.

At a key time for decisions on the future direction of policy, it is bringing policymakers together with stakeholders in public health and the food and drink industry.

Delegates will consider the issues in the context of responses to consultations on the second chapter of the Government’s Childhood obesity plan for action - looking at TV and online advertising, in-store placement and promotion of HFSS products, the sale of energy drinks to children, and calorie labelling in the out-of-home sector.

We expect discussion on practicalities and implementation issues, as well as the expectations of businesses of different scales within the food sector, and of other stakeholders in public health, education, local authorities and families.

They will consider how advertising policy and regulation might develop across the range of media and online platforms and the timelines for any changes - and assess progress through the voluntary sugar reduction and calorie reduction programmes.

With the new Change4Life campaign launched we expect discussion on latest thinking on making healthier choices easier, drawing on research findings, latest innovative approaches and insights on consumer habits and attitudes.

The agenda will bring out latest thinking on the role of schools and other education settings in encouraging healthy lifestyles and behaviours, and how leadership and action in this area should be measured.

We expect discussion on investment of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy revenue, the priorities for the forthcoming update of the School Food Standards, and the cross-government School Sport and Activity Action Plan.

The discussion will be informed by the Whole Systems Approach to Obesity programme - which worked with 11 local authorities to help deliver coordinated actions on childhood obesity - and the Trailblazer programme which is supporting local authorities to develop plans to reduce child obesity.

Sessions examine the way forward for collaboration, looking at best practice in the development of local approaches to support children and families in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

The seminar will also discuss how public and private sector bodies can work together to improve prevention and delivery of support - drawing on experience from across local government, the NHS, schools, parent groups, the third sector and industry.

This conference focuses on the future of the UK agriculture sector - and will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with policymakers on key issues at a pivotal point in the Brexit process.

It is timed to discuss the impact on the sector of changes proposed in the Agriculture Bill which is currently being debated in Parliament - including moves towards a system of payment for ‘public goods’ in areas such as environmental and animal welfare standards.  

Delegates will also examine the practicalities of the agricultural transition period in England between 2021 and 2027, looking at how best to support farmers during this time and future funding - and will be informed by the upcoming review on the future distribution of agriculture funding between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Following the closed consultation on Environmental Principles and Governance post-Brexit, and with the draft Environment Bill recently released, attendees will also assess the role of UK agriculture in protecting the environment, security of food supply and what more can be done to support productivity in the sector.

Further sessions look at possible new approaches to regulating farming with the recently published Review of Farm Inspection and Regulation.

This conference will be a timely opportunity to examine the direction of policy and what it means for the UK’s food, drink and farming sector at a time of significant change and uncertainty.

The discussion

• Competitiveness - latest thinking on promoting and protecting UK brands globally - including developing trade with evolving markets such as China;
• Support - what is needed by the industry, across the UK, to adapt to any regulatory changes following the UK’s exit from the European Union - including for SMEs;  
• Workforce - ensuring the sector has access to the workforce it needs, with the right skills and that it is seen as an attractive career destination;
• Research - examining the Sector Deal and other mechanisms to provide support with investment and commercialisation of world-leading UK food research and innovation;
• Supply chain management - improving transparency, safeguarding standards and contingency planning for cross-channel capacity and Irish border issues;
• Sustainability - engaging the food industry and the public with land management and stewardship options in the context of developing UK environmental policy and international commitments; and
• International relationships and trade - the impact of any future tariffs and checks on exporting agri-food businesses, customs requirements on importing businesses following the UK’s exit from the European Union; learning from Australia’s diverse exporting experience and particular emerging issues for the meat and live exports sector.

Context

• Government no-deal guidance papers in areas including pesticides, GM products, exporting animal products, breeding animals, fishing and food labelling regulations;
• Findings and recommendations from the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on The impact of Brexit on the processed food and drink sector;
• The development of a Sector Deal by the Food and Drink Sector Council - focusing on exports and innovation;

• The recently published Fisheries Bill, which includes proposals on access to fish in UK waters, fishing opportunities and quotas and protection of the marine environment;
• The Agriculture Bill, which includes measures to increase transparency in the supply chain and proposes a move towards a system of payment for ‘public goods’ - such as environmental and animal welfare standards - over the agricultural transition period in England between 2021 and 2027; and
• The independent review on factors that should determine future distribution of agriculture funding between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The timely conference will assess next steps for science and innovation in agriculture.

It will be an opportunity to examine the impact of new legislation being introduced as the UK leaves the Common Agricultural Policy, including an Environment Bill and the recently published Agriculture Bill. The seminar also comes as the UK Government prepares a number of no deal guidance papers including on animal breeding, pesticides, GM products and plant variety rights.

Delegates will discuss what these developments mean for productivity, and for those working in the agriculture and food sectors - including the commitment to increase productivity and invest in research and development in areas such as soil health, alongside a system of payment for ‘public goods’ in areas such as water quality, emissions, biodiversity, and animal welfare standards.

Further sessions assess priorities for science and key developments in UK agriculture - drawing on what can be learnt from advances in other industries and moves towards automation.

Attendees will consider the future use of data in agriculture, and further developments in agri-tech, along with priorities for improving the utilisation of technology and to support knowledge transfer in the agriculture sector and prospects for promoting UK science and innovation internationally.