Government fails to honour commitment to source British food
27th August 2025
Farming campaigner Countryside Alliance has released a comprehensive report which reveals that most government departments and councils are failing to monitor or prioritise British produce in their catering policies.
The Labour government has pledged that half of all food purchased across the public sector will be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.
Since the announcement of the controversial family farm tax, the government has attempted to quell farmers’ anger by reiterating the manifesto pledge to back British-grown food. However, the report raises serious questions about whether that target can be met without robust policies, proper monitoring, and clear leadership from the top, the CA team said.
Based on over 200 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to government departments, local authorities and the British Armed Forces, the report’s findings expose a worrying lack of transparency, accountability and ambition in supporting British farmers and food producers.
Out of 19 central government departments contacted, including DEFRA, only one – the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – reported having a policy of deliberately procuring British food. Just one other, the Department for Health and Social Care, was able to confirm the proportion of food it had sourced from the UK (72% in 2023–24).
The Ministry of Defence, meanwhile, admitted it held no data on the origin of the meat served to service personnel.
Robust policies, proper monitoring and clear leadership required
CA said that of the 215 councils contacted, only 12% were able to provide data on how much of their food was produced in the UK.
Scotland and Wales emerged as relative bright spots, with several councils benefiting from procurement frameworks that prioritise local and sustainable sourcing: namely Scotland Excel and the Welsh Public Sector Collaborative Food Group.
The rural campaigner is now calling for public bodies to implement traceable, transparent procurement strategies that put local and British food at their heart.
Countryside Alliance parliament and government relations manager, David Bean, reminded that the Labour government has pledged that half of food purchased across the public sector will be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.
He added: “For rural Britain, this was one of the most attractive parts of its manifesto at the last election. Our report raises serious questions about whether that target can be met.
“Only one out of 19 central government departments reported having a policy of deliberately procuring British food, while just one other was able to confirm the proportion of food it had sourced from the UK. The vast majority of councils also had no policies, and no idea where their food was produced. The MoD had no data on where the meat fed to armed forces personnel is sourced from either.
“If public bodies aren’t at least monitoring where the food they purchase comes from, it will be impossible to track progress against any target. Meeting 50% will require robust policies, proper monitoring, and clear leadership from the top.”
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‘British farmers deserve more than warm words’
Mr Bean said that public bodies must implement traceable, transparent procurement strategies that put local and British food at their heart.
“We urge ministers to strengthen the Government Buying Standards and learn from Scotland and Wales, where many councils have benefitted from procurement frameworks that prioritise local and sustainable sourcing. There is no reason why the same cannot be done in England too.
“In the face of economic uncertainty, and with a barrage of other government policies making their livelihoods harder, British farmers deserve more than warm words. They need a public sector that takes meaningful, measurable action to stand on their side,” he concluded.
CA is also encouraging councils to pass its pro-farming local food motion and to consider the wider benefits – environmental, economic and cultural – of keeping food supply chains short, sustainable and rooted in the countryside. Suffolk, Cornwall and Rutland are among those councils that have already voted through motions in support of the policy.
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