On 24th June, we hosted our second Thought Leaders Series event at Burges Salmon in Bristol. The event gathered a diverse cross-section of stakeholders from government, food businesses, charities, academia, farming, and retail to explore a critical question: is the food system fit for the future?
The event featured a keynote presentation by Alex Stevens, Chief Sustainable Supply Chains Advisor for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), followed by a panel discussion chaired by Professor Guy Poppy, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Also on the panel were Heloise Balme, Director of the Bristol Food Network, and Dr Lucy McCarthy, a Reader at the University of Bristol Business School.
Alex Stevens delivered a wide-ranging talk on sustainable farming and the current policy context shaping UK agriculture.
Drawing from his experience in rural regeneration and his current NFU role, Stevens identified several interlinked challenges and opportunities to bring about a more sustainable food system:
Sustainability reporting
Stevens explained how sustainability metrics are increasingly shaping corporate decisions, with businesses now linking carbon tracking and environmental outcomes to executive bonuses. He highlighted how methods for calculating farm-level carbon footprints – like those used by supermarkets to track lower methane beef – are gaining traction, influenced by corporate goals, national standards, and international frameworks.
Climate-friendly farming and business resilience
Addressing net zero requires more than just science – it also requires the right language and trust. Stevens noted that many farmers feel that sustainability is not communicated effectively, and this hinders participation. Nonetheless, he stressed that farmers are central to climate-friendly farming, managing biodiversity corridors and navigating rising input costs such as fertiliser and energy.
Resilience plans and tools
The NFU has developed sector-specific resilience plans, addressing areas such as dairy, horticulture, and livestock. Stevens praised Defra’s Harmonisation of Carbon Accounting Tools as a step toward more consistent sustainability data, but emphasized the need for flexible, land-specific strategies.
Systemic barriers to transformation
Structural issues – like difficulty accessing finance, succession challenges, and rigid planning frameworks – are major hurdles for farmers. Uncertainty over future support for framing is having major effects, with some farmers opting for renewable energy ventures over food production. Stevens closed by noting that while Defra’s new Food Strategy references critical issues like health, food security, and economic growth, it risks trying to do everything and satisfying no one.
The panel discussion expanded the conversation, exploring intersections between food systems, health, sustainability, governance, and equity.
Here’s a flavour of the issues discussed:
Market forces vs regulation
A recurring theme was the inadequacy of market mechanisms alone in addressing food system failures. While markets have a role, participants agreed that systemic transformation requires combined approaches – government regulation, community initiatives, and public-private partnerships. Labelling, for instance, while helpful, was seen as insufficient without deeper structural transformation.
Health, education, and UPFs
Professor Guy Poppy underscored the public health challenges tied to current food systems, especially the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), increasing childhood obesity, and the societal impact of new appetite suppressant drugs like Ozempic. These issues highlight the paradox of a system that produces ‘cheap’ calories while fostering poor health outcomes.
Panellists discussed the importance of early education and whole-school food strategies, calling for curriculum reforms and widespread adoption of training initiatives like ‘FaceTime a Farmer’. Other innovative health strategies mentioned included green prescribing and subsidising urban market gardens in lower-income areas.
The power of local food economies
Bristol’s vibrant local food ecosystem was presented as a model for future systems. Panellists advocated for bottom-up approaches led by communities and tied to regional governance. Funding and policy must support such models if they are to grow and succeed. Progressive procurement practices – like those seen in France – were discussed as potential examples for the UK to learn from.
Power imbalances and food waste
Concerns were raised about market consolidation, especially the dominance of a few retailers, which may suppress sustainability initiatives and alternative supply chains. Participants emphasised the need for more decentralised governance, pointing to successful regional and environmental policies (e.g. Poole Harbour’s eutrophication management) as better frameworks than those placing the burden solely on individual farmers.
Food waste also emerged as a key issue. Solutions must include upstream changes, including surplus valorisation at the farm gate and better supply chain logistics. Circular economy models, such as those being developed in Lucy McCarthy’s research and the Circular Agriculture Hub, offer promising routes to reduce waste and reimagine food system value.
Final reflections
The event closed with a call for no less than a Copernican shift in how food systems are understood and governed – toward a shared, multifaceted, systems-level governance model. A commonly voiced concern was the lack of a national, unified vision for food. Stakeholders across sectors – farmers, academics, policymakers – expressed frustration at fragmented policies and the absence of joined-up leadership across health, environment, and economy.
Whether the UK government’s new Food Strategy will meet this need remains, for now, an open question. However, the consensus was clear: change requires collaborative leadership, clear direction, and visibility for farming and sustainable practices.
The University of Bristol Business School thanks all our participants and Burges Salmon for hosting.
Author: Jonathan Beacham, Research Fellow, University of Bristol Business School and Jane Leeks, Business Engagement Coordinator