Defra secretary Angela Leadsom has unveiled a new plan aimed at driving up food and drink exports. This latest announcement, which the environment department claims could raise the value of the sector by almost £3bn, fits into the government’s Great British Food Campaign launched at the beginning of the year.

However, food policy experts have warned that the government’s plans represent a false economy and have urged ministers and policy makers to come up with a more holistic food strategy to benefit both Britons and food buyers overseas, rather than exporting mostly unhealthy, resource-dense foods around the world.

Launching the new scheme - dubbed the International Action Plan for Food and Drink - at the world’s largest food trade fair in Paris on Tuesday, Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom said it could increase the value of Britain’s food exports by £2.9bn over the next five years. The plan identifies nine markets across 18 countries (including India, China, the USA, Canada and the Gulf States) with the best potential for growth, and sets out new ways to tap into these opportunities.

Government will also give food companies business support, mentoring and training to help them start exporting.

The export opportunities outlined in the plan include:

• Sending an extra £185 million in exports to Japan, where there is demand for tea, jam and biscuits and new opportunities for British beef
• An additional £293 million of exports to Australia and New Zealand, where there’s a growing thirst for beer and cider
• A £215 million export boost in Mexico and Latin America, capitalising on growing demand for a wide range of British products including whisky and gin

Commenting from Paris, the environment secretary said, “With over £10 billion worth of food and drink sold overseas in the last seven months and exports up almost six per cent compared to 2015, there is no doubt we are open for business and ready to trade. Our food and drink is renowned for having the very best standards of animal welfare, quality and safety and I want even more of the world to enjoy what we have to offer.”

However, Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City university, London launched a broadside against the plans on Wednesday. He said, “I worry sometimes that the Government just doesn’t understand the enormity of the food challenge. The new export drive might appear to be a recognition of the awesome £21bn food trade gap. But that’s been known for years, and has simply grown despite efforts to increase exports.”

Prof Lang, who has argued that government needs to develop a joined-up food and farming policy that balances nutrition and public health, the environment, food security, social justice and other concerns, continued, “The key issue is that the UK food system urgently needs to be recalibrated: more home production but only on sustainable lines. Particularly, more horticulture - to counter the vast imports of healthy foods while we export alcohol, meat, sweets (which are hardly ‘good’ exports). And above all to begin gently changing consumers eating patterns to come more into line with health and environment.

“Britain is parasitic on other people’s land and resources… So what Defra ought to be doing is to take a lead on how to integrate these complex issues. Simply exporting more ain‘t the solution. It’s old-style market thinking when we need ecological market thinking.”

Also commenting on the export drive, Professor Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City University said, “It is understandable that DEFRA is focusing on enhancing British exports from an economic perspective. But they need to be sure that policy is coherent with national efforts to reduce obesity.

"By all means export, but make sure all products are consistent with the UK EatWell Plate, which the UK government advises its own population to eat."