Agriculture Minister Jim Paice has touted Defra’s plans to blosted the reputation of British food and drink. The farming minister today announced a government-backed drive to boost exports of British food and drink to high growth markets like India and China, which Defra claims will prove to be “an engine for economic growth”.

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Food and farming is worth £85 billion to the UK economy national, employing 3.5 million people and Defra ministers have recommended producers and processors turn their eyes to new markets, where there is a strong demand for Western goods as incomes rise.

New action plan to benefit exporters

Defra today outlined the “significant opportunities” it sees for British producers to increase their profits; in 2010, for the sixth consecutive year, UK food and drink exports grew by 12 per cent to £16.1billion, but the UK still exports more food to Belgium than to Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico put together; these countries are expected to enter the top five retail grocery markets by 2015.

The UK exports most food to the Republic of Ireland, the USA, France, Germany and Spain. Top British exports include whisky, beer, chocolate, breakfast cereals and soft drinks.

The Farming, Food and Drink Exports Action Plan, published today, sets out how Government and industry will work together to open up and take advantage of key markets. It includes plans for a domestic drive to encourage and support manufacturers to succeed overseas, as well as an overseas campaign to champion British food abroad.

Launching the action plan, Mr Paice said, “British food is already known the world over for its quality, and with surging world population growth and demand for western products, there are huge opportunities for our producers to tap into emerging markets. I’m convinced the sector can become an engine for growth for our economic recovery. It’s crucial we get the right support to business at home as well as championing British products abroad.”

Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green welcomed the investment, saying, “This is the year of the Olympics – a once in a generation opportunity to showcase what makes Britain Great. The quality of our food and drink is famous around the world and we want to see many more small and medium enterprises exporting to high growth markets.”

The project steering group which developed the action plan along with the export forum included Defra, UKTI, Food and Drink Federation, Food and Drink Exports Association, Scotch Whisky Association, and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

The Exports Action Plan includes plans to:

• Hold regional road shows and business-to-business networking events to share best practice and encourage companies to export;
• Make it far easier for companies to access the range of advice and support already available;
• Make food export paperwork simpler and easier to access;
• Better advertise the financial safeguards available to protect smaller companies from not being paid, which is a key concern;
• Work across government and industry to get other countries to remove bans on British meat, such as beef and lamb to China.
• Support inexperienced agri-food companies to showcase products at international tradeshows and trade missions;
• Ministers and a new international business ambassador to provide high-level support and promote the best of British produce abroad;
• Showcase British food and drink at the London Olympics 2012 to attract international buyers.

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