Jim Mosely, CEO Red Tractor 

16 July 2025 

Yesterday, the UK Government published its Food Strategy for England, focusing on healthier and more affordable food, good growth, sustainable and resilient supply and vibrant food cultures. 

The strategy provides a framework for policy development, but there will be much work to do in understanding how it can be delivered.  

At Red Tractor, we’re very supportive of a comprehensive food strategy that supports local food systems, domestic production and upholds British standards. We welcome all opportunities to work with the Government to understand the role of assurance in delivering the strategy.  

Just last Thursday, I had the opportunity to hear from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner and to extend this offer of support and collaboration. I joined a small group of farmers, growers, processors and branded food manufacturers at a dinner hosted by Mills & Reeve – one of the country’s largest legal firms in terms of food, beverage and agriculture. During the meeting Daniel Zeichner spoke on subjects as varied as gene editing, planning decisions and the Food Strategy. 

I took the opportunity to impress upon the Minister both the importance and the potential of the UK’s agri-food industry. Boasting some of the highest standards of food safety and animal welfare in the world, our industry is one to be proud of. With the right tools it can be a major contributor to Government’s aims of increased food security and growth through exports.  

However, Government needs to give the industry the respect and trust that it deserves and listen to those stakeholders that can drive growth. Policies should be based on market opportunities and facts not on anti-farming opinions. Planning decisions should be taken at the highest level – ensuring national objectives are taken into account – and not by parish councils. Labelling and food choice should be driven by consumer research not activist pressure. I also talked of the value of assurance to the food chain and to Government – a message that was well received and that we must build on with this Administration.