Food and drink

The UK food and drink sector is facing many challenges, from its own impact on climate change, to the impact climate change has on its ability to produce. Challenges include: 

• Extreme weather conditions adversely affect production 
• Producing enough food to meet the demand of growing populations across the globe 
• Reducing food waste 
• Lack of funding to move to more sustainable growing systems or the land use changes required 
• Resource management and protection 
• Soil health for carbon capture and storage, water retention and nutrient cycling 
• Sustainable water resources 
• Overgrazing 
• Increased pest pressure and reduction in agri-chemicals 
• Biodiversity loss; loss of pollinators and other wildlife  
• How to address scope 3 emissions in the supply chain 
• Non-financial reporting and management skills and the funds to adopt these. 

Addressing environmental issues is high up on the sector’s agenda. Many organisations are working to make improvements: from farming unions to retailers, individual producers to sector partnerships, the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and government funding streams, farming conservation organisations and industry agencies.  

One example of this is Vitacress, which has a long-term environmental framework and is working towards net zero by 2040, supported by nine priorities including emissions reduction, water, soil and biodiversity. As part of its biodiversity work, Vitacress has developed its own bespoke conservation farming programme. Vitacress Farm Excellence is a partnership with LEAF and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.  

Collaborative working across the value chain means progress is being made towards a more sustainable sector. Examples of this collaboration include: 

• UK retailers working with suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of a typical shopping basket, and, additionally, bringing down scope 3 emissions 
• Farmers and producers can access DEFRA grants to help improve water, biodiversity and growing systems 
• Research partnerships with universities are advancing technology in food manufacturing to make it more efficient and less costly 
• Renewable energy generation is becoming more prevalent on sites and is directly powering operations 
• Sustainable farming techniques are being employed, including direction of ploughing, no-till and green manures, crop rotations and mixed farming. 

Within the food and drink sector, many roles are dedicated to looking at environmental issues, such as: 

• Group Environment Manager 
• Sustainability Manager 
• CSR Manager. 

Other typical sector roles, although not recruited specifically to fulfil an environmental remit, may still require green knowledge and for sustainability skills to be regularly used. Areas where these roles could be found include:   

• Finance (both Environmental Accountants and those working on a financial business growth element) 
• Soil Scientists / Agronomists / Growers 
• Livestock management  
• Engineering (building efficient kit for energy and water) 
• Procurement 
• Transport and logistics 
• New product development (including resources such as raw materials and packaging) 
• Food safety and quality 
• Operations  
• Facilities  
• Biodiversity expertise 
• Grant and funding expertise.

Furthermore, farmers can apply their existing growing skills to creating habitat through drilling wildflower seeds, planting trees/hedges and nurturing their growth. 

1. Environment Act 2021 
2. Agriculture Act 2020 
3. WRAP – Waste and Resources Action Programme