Fourth Special Report - Environmental change and food security: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report

This is the government's response, published 21 March 2024.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government responds to each of the report's 29 recommendations in turn, mostly by setting out existing policy and programmes rather than by stating acceptance or rejection.

• On annual food security reporting, the Government will introduce an annual Food Security Index, with a first draft published at the Farm to Fork Summit "this Spring"; the longer UK Food Security Report will continue "at least every three years".
• On mandatory carbon and biodiversity food reporting, Defra's sustainability strand of the Food Data Transparency Partnership "is not currently planning to introduce mandatory environmental reporting" for food and drink companies.
• On mandatory food waste reporting by large businesses, the Government intends to gather further evidence and "retake the decision in the next four to six months".
• On soil health, Defra will publish a progress report on a national soil health indicator "by June 2024" and guidance on soil monitoring for farmers; on the Land Use Framework it says it "will be published in 2024".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error