Food strategy for England will back farmers, Boris Johnson says

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The prime minister has said that farmers will be at the center of the new food strategy.

Boris Johnson promised that farmers will produce more home-grown food to help protect against future economic shocks.

The full details of the proposal will be published later in the day.

Critics said a leaked version of the report was bad. Labour didn't deliver much more than a slogan.

Environmental groups have accused the government of backpedaling.

Mr Johnson said the plan set out "how we will back farmers, boost British industry and help protect people against the impacts of future economic shocks"

The PM said: "Harnessing new technologies and innovation, we will grow and eat more of our own food, which in turn will help to reduce pressure on prices."

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Plans are included in the strategy as well.

• Consult on an ambition for 50% of public sector food spend to go on food produced locally or certified to higher standards
• Publish a framework for land use in England next year

An independent review of the food system was conducted by Henry Dimbleby who made a number of recommendations.

The budget for farm payments should be protected until at least 2029, according to Mr Dimbleby.

He said that less than half of his recommendations had been implemented.

The final version of the report has not been published, but a leaked draft has been described as half baked and watered down.

The Wildlife Trust's director of policy and public affairs said that the landmark review had recommended a greater emphasis on protecting nature and the climate in farming, but she was worried that the government was watering down its approach.

She said that unless we deal with the climate and nature crises, we will have a food security issue in 10 or 15 years.

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Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers' Union, welcomed the commitment to food production and food security, but said this depended on the policies put in place to deliver it.

She said it's important that food stays affordable and that social policies are in place for access to high quality food.

The strategy lacked ambition and many of the recommendations made by the government's independent adviser on how the food system can be healthier for people and the planet had been "watered down, ignored or put off for further consultation".

Michael Gove, the environment secretary at the time, commissioned the National Food Strategy.