Conservative environment secretary Liz Truss unveiled plans to ‘turbo charge’ the UK food sector on Sunday.

In an interview with the Telegraph, ahead of the publication of the Tories’ manifesto, Truss promised to increase the number of foods accorded protected name status, set up a ‘Great British Food’ unit to promote the country’s food and farming industries and make moves to triple the number of apprenticeships available to young people. 

One major commitment was for further measures to reduce farm inspections - following on from the coalition government’s bonfire of the quangos and subsequent red tape challenge. The Conservative secretary of state unveiled plans for a single new arms-length agency to coordinate all inspectors’ visits to farms. Truss said the new agency would be called OfFarm (Like school assessors Ofsted).

She also restated the Conservatives’ commitments to replying the hunting ban.

Meanwhile, Labour has promised to pursue a ‘joined-up food policy’. The party, which released its manifesto today, ahead of the other major parties, has also pledged to do more to promote British food, but has confirmed it is committed to ending badger culling in the South-West and to strengthening the ban on hunting with dogs.

In January, shadow farming minister Huw Irranca-Davies promised that a Labour government would take a holistic look at food and farming, with a view to improving research and development, and ensuring that education, public health, environmental and business policy all interlock and complement one another to provide a boost for food and farming.

Labour leader Ed Miliband unveiled the party’s manifesto in Manchester on Monday (13 April). Standing by promises made in January and February on joined-up food policy and animal welfare concerns, Miliband expressed an intention to expand the role of the supermarket adjudicator and strengthen ties with Europe, arguing that there is an “overwhelming” economic case for continued membership of the EU.