Sustainable dairy is at the core of food security

A strong, sustainable domestic dairy sector is a vital element of food security for the UK, Dairy UK said today in response to the publication of Defra’s latest thinking.

As an industry producing some of nation’s best loved foods, we fully accept our responsibility to act in a sustainable way. That’s why we are setting so much store by the environmental targets in the Milk Roadmap, which the farming sector, processors, retailers and government have signed up to. We are on track to exceed these targets and have already started additional work on an industry-wide carbon footprinting standard and educating consumers about food waste among others.

Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg said: "For the UK to be food secure, consumers must have access to a sustainable supply of the foods they like, at prices they can afford. In practical terms, this requires robust domestic food production.

"Dairy is central to a healthy balanced diet, which means that it is at the core of food security for the UK. By working in partnership with government and the supply chain, the industry can put itself in a strong position to meet the challenges of delivering a sustainable food system in the future and we are confident we can meet this challenge.

Dairy UK is working with Defra and its agencies on food security, and will respond in detail to the package of measures outlined in today’s announcement.