Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food
Policy Commission report
The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food was set up by the Prime Minister in August 2001, and its remit covered England. The Commission presented its report to Government on 29 January 2002.
The report was a major contribution to a new strategy for sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming, fully integrated with the rest of the food chain and taking into account the needs of the environment and rural economy.
It sets out a vision for the farming and food industry.
The independent report contained around 100 recommendations - for farmers, food producers, government and other agencies. These recommendations addressed many of Defra's key themes.
Delivery and follow-up
The Government worked closely with farmers, the food
industry and the full range of stakeholders to develop the Policy Commission's
recommendations into practical policies and deliver them on the ground.
This process began on 26 March 2002 when the Prime Minister and Secretary
of State met with farming
and food industry leaders and others with an interest in the environment
and rural economy to discuss how best they could contribute to taking
forward
the ideas contained in the Policy Commission's Report. This event coincided
with the publication of a document entitled Sustainable
Food And Farming: Working Together 
(200
KB), which invited
stakeholders' views on how to deliver the Commission's vision. The
document also included a summary of the Policy
Commission Recommendations (110
KB) and an economic
analysis and evidence paper (490
KB). A summary
of the responses received is also available.
Response to the Report of the Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food by HM Government
The Government's Response was published in December 2002 together with the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food.
- Full
document (840
KB)
Page last modified: 18 July 2006