The Food Research Collaboration, which links academics and civil society groups, argues in its latest Briefing Paper that the EU referendum has 'momentous significance' for the food system, and the country must 'wake up to the enormity of unravelling 43 years of co-negotiated food legislation'.
The UK imports high proportions of its foodstuffs from Europe. For example, nearly 40% of fruit and vegetables and 55% of pigmeat come from the EU. If the country decides to leave, food imports are predicted to become more expensive and there could be major disruptions to the finely tuned just-in-time supply chains on which the UK food system now depends.
The report also warns of a potential labour crisis if EU nationals lose their freedom to work in the UK. EU employees make up more than a quarter of the food manufacturing workforce and a tenth of workers in food and beverage services.
Apart from these direct impacts, the report argues that the in-out debate is an unwelcome distraction from what should be the main focus of policy: to shift a high-carbon, wasteful and unhealthy food system at both EU and UK levels in a more sustainable direction.
Read Sustain's policies on sustainable farming and food here.
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
