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Leading figures from across the food and drink sector have formed a new partnership with government to boost productivity and make the industry more resilient, sustainable and competitive.

Meeting for the first time yesterday (Monday 29 January), the Food and Drink Sector Council agreed priorities for the next 12 months, including a focus on boosting skills, agricultural productivity, improving the nation’s nutrition and building on emerging proposals to establish a sector deal. The Council will set up expert working groups to develop recommendations for industry and government on each of its priorities.

The new group is made up of leading industry figures from agriculture, manufacturing, retail, logistics and hospitality sectors.

The UK’s food and drink industry is already a huge success story, with exports of quality British produce – worth £20 billion – reaching over 200 countries. The Council’s work to boost productivity will mean industry will be better placed to take advantage of emerging global opportunities to access more markets and boost exports as we leave the European Union.

Speaking following the meeting, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

This first meeting of the Food and Drink Sector Council marks a significant step forward in supporting this vital industry, which is already worth over £110 billion to the UK economy.

This ambitious partnership between government and industry will secure the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable, affordable and high-quality food and drink. Increasing productivity will also benefit consumers and businesses, creating jobs and providing a real boost to our economy.

The Food and Drink Sector Council was first announced in the Industrial Strategy white paper, which sets out the government’s long-term plan to build a Britain fit for the future through a stronger, fairer economy.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

From Scotch Whisky, to award winning cheeses and premium seafood, the produce from our thriving food and drink sector is in demand and enjoyed around the world.

Through our modern Industrial Strategy and the Food and Drink Sector Council, the government is working together with industry to build on these exceptional strengths, boost its productivity and seize the future opportunities of this national success story.

Iain Ferguson, Joint Chair Food and Drink Sector Council, (Chairman Stobart Group ltd) said:

Today has been possible due to the huge amount of work and commitment to bring the sector together. It is exciting to see everyone in the same room working together to address the opportunities and challenges we face as an industry.

Householders and businesses are being asked for their views on proposals to cut harmful emissions caused by the burning of dirtier fuels.

A call for evidence on the use of house coal, smokeless coal, manufactured solid fuels and wet wood used for heating homes has today been launched to help the government reduce harmful emissions of soot and smoke, as action continues to improve air quality.

The government is considering a range of options to tackle these emissions, these include:

• Encouraging consumers to switch from house coal by only allowing the sale of low sulphur smokeless alternatives
• switching from wet wood to dry wood
• the introduction of sulphur limits for all smokeless solid fuels
• and new powers for local authorities to take action for persistent smoke offences where local amenity is harmed
• The government is not considering banning domestic burning, and is not seeking to prevent the use or installation of wood-burning stoves

The call for evidence will inform our understanding of what impact these measures could have if introduced.

While we are keen to encourage consumers to switch to cleaner wood burning, which will directly benefit them in their homes and improve the local environment, the government is not considering banning domestic burning. Many households have installed wood-burning stoves, and we are not seeking to prevent their use or installation.

While air quality in the UK has improved significantly in recent decades, with reductions in emissions of all of the key pollutants, domestic burning of house coal (the typical black fuel), smokeless solid fuels (smokeless coal, for example, or manufactured solid fuels which are made from coal and other ingredients) and wood are the single largest contributors of harmful particulate matter (PM) emissions, accounting for around 40% of total UK PM2.5 emissions in 2015. In fact, a wood burning stove can emit more PM than a diesel HGV or passenger car.

The tiny particles in smoke can enter the bloodstream and have been found in internal organs risking long term health issues as well as having more immediate impacts in some people such as breathing problems or asthma attacks.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said:

We all have a role to play in improving the air we breathe. Many of us enjoy a cosy fire in our homes, but burning dirtier fuel has a real impact on the quality of air for our family and friends around us.

We must be mindful that pollution is about more than just transport. Poor air quality affects public health, the economy, and the environment, which is why we are determined to do more. However, if we make the switch to burning cleaner domestic fuel, we can continue to enjoy burning wood and smokeless coal in stoves and fires in our homes.

Many consumers are unaware of the impact on their health or the environment from burning solid fuels, or indeed which are the cleanest fuels to buy. That is why the government is already working with industry to raise consumer awareness of the benefits of cleaner fuels, such as ‘Ready to Burn’ wood, where a logo clearly identifies wood that is certified as clean and ready to burn.

Consumers can already take action by buying the most efficient stove, using high quality fuel and regularly servicing their appliance.

Last year the government confirmed it would end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars by 2040 as part of a £3.5billion plan to tackle nitrogen dioxide emissions. The UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations produced by Defra and the Department for Transport, outlined how councils with the worst levels of air pollution at busy road junctions and hotspots must take robust action.

The call for evidence will feed into the government’s Clean Air Strategy, which will be published for consultation in 2018. This will further address wider sources of air pollution.

The government-funded network, which is made up of 10 independent What Works Centres, was created to improve the use and generation of robust evidence in policy areas such as health, education and policing.

The progress report, released today to mark the network’s fifth anniversary, highlights how public funds and resources have been allocated more effectively, thanks to evidence provided by independent researchers in the government-backed What Works Centres.

For example, research from the Early Intervention Foundation showed the impact of parent conflict on children’s long-term outcomes. This research informed the decision of the Department for Work and Pensions to invest £30 million in interventions designed to resolve parent conflict in families with the most disadvantaged children.

By translating complex evidence into practical and useable tools, the What Works Centres help public sector decision-makers deliver the best possible outcomes for the public.

David Lidington, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Elizabeth Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury said:

This government is committed to delivering public services that work for the ordinary citizen. Services delivered by schools, hospitals, GP practices, residential care homes, and police forces have all been enhanced by the findings of the What Works network.

The UK is now seen as a world-leader in the application of evidence in policy and practice and that is largely due to the increasing profile of the What Works Centres.

Dr David Halpern, What Works National Adviser said:

At the request of the Cabinet Secretary and Prime Minister, it has been a great honour to champion this agenda these last five years. Answering the question ‘What works?’ is hard work, but often a game changer. We’ve been asking this question in medicine for 50 years, and it’s saved countless lives. Now we’re asking it in schools, policing and economic growth polices, and its impact is proving equally large.

Megan Dixon, Director of Literacy, Aspire Educational Trust said:

The research that the EEF [Education Endowment Foundation] does helps us make really effective decisions about what to focus on in schools. It is great to have independent, robust research to consider when you are thinking about adopting a new approach.

Sir Jeremy Heywood, Head of the Civil Service said:

What Works’ is a quietly radical agenda that is materially increasing the supply of evidence available to decision-makers. I am delighted to see that the public sector is embracing it.

Location and property data start-ups could be in line to receive funding, business support and the strategic backing of Ordnance Survey (OS) and HM Land Registry (HMLR)

The Geovation Programme is now accepting applications from start-ups using location and/or land and property data in their products and services. If selected to join the Programme, the start-ups will each receive up to £20,000 in funding and a range of resources and services to help develop their businesses. This includes access to experienced software developers, geospatial expertise from OS, property expertise from HMLR, and mentoring to assist with business proposals and investor relationships.

Geovation has been specially designed to offer the best possible support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and individuals that are using geospatial technology and data to create new products and services. At the start of 2018, Geovation was presented with an international award from the Geospatial World Forum who awarded Geovation its Geospatial Hub of the Year Award. The jury noted that “Geovation has successfully connected individuals and SMEs and created opportunities, envisioned solutions and brought differentiation”.

Geovation members are using location and property data and new technologies to help transform a variety of sectors, including property, mobility and transport, infrastructure, energy, health, and connectivity. Since opening its doors two years ago, Geovation has seen the ventures it has supported raise £12.7 million in investment and created 90 new jobs.

Head of Geovation Alex Wrottesley said:

We offer an exceptional launchpad to PropTech and GeoTech businesses. Programme Members can expect funding, space and data, experienced technical development capacity, and tailored mentorship and support to help develop their business ideas. To be recognised by our international peers with an award for facilitating industry collaboration and adding value to projects critical to the success of the nation’s digital economy was pleasing and unexpected. The recognition is also a compliment to the excellent work of the Geovation team and the support we receive from Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry. We’re very much future-focused and are looking forward to meeting and working with next group of Programme Members, and being a part of their story and them ours.

John Abbott, Director of Digital, Data and Technology at HM Land Registry, said:

The programme is delivering terrific results, so we are delighted to continue our support for the next tranche of start-ups working on property-related services to make transactions simpler, faster and cheaper for everyone. We expect to see the benefits of this investment across legal, financial and property sectors – stimulating growth for the wider economy and bringing more opportunities to the UK.

Miranda Sharp, Director of Innovation at Ordnance Survey, said:

Combining new technologies and innovative business models to address social and economic challenges lies at the heart of the Government’s modern Industrial Strategy. Geovation embodies this. It’s an exciting time for Ordnance Survey, and for the geospatial community at large. With the emergence of technologies that have the potential to transform our world and the way we live and do business, I feel we’re on the verge of something special. It will be a data-driven world where place is the common factor, which is going to be core to getting value from data connecting, and Geovation is at the heart of this.

Contact

For further information, examples of businesses, interviews, and images, contact Keegan Wilson at Ordnance Survey:

• by email keegan.wilson@os.uk
• by phone 02380 055332

Notes to editors

About Geovation

Geovation is an Ordnance Survey Initiative in association with HM Land Registry, which is dedicated to supporting open innovation and collaboration using location and property data. Location is at the heart of many of the most successful digital products and services. Land and property is the foundation of our national economy.

About HM Land Registry

1. HM Land Registry is a government department created in 1862. It operates as an executive agency and a trading fund and its running costs are covered by the fees paid by the users of its services. Its ambition is to become the world’s leading land registry for speed, simplicity and an open approach to data.
2. HM Land Registry safeguards land and property ownership worth in excess of £4 trillion, including around £1 trillion of mortgages. The Land Register contains more than 25 million titles, which show evidence of ownership, for some 85% of the land mass in England and Wales.
3. For further information about HM Land Registry visit our website.
4. Follow us on Twitter @HMLandRegistry, our blog, LinkedIn and Facebook.