Addressing attendees at the 2024 Semex International Dairy Conference, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) chief executive Karen Betts shared details of the FDF ‘Mission Possible’ strategy, stating more had to be done in areas such as environmental sustainability.

The strategy, which aims to explore new opportunities for innovation and growth in dairy and across the food and drink manufacturing sector, was delivered on Monday 15th January at the conference in Glasgow.

An audience including key industry stakeholders from across British farming and the dairy sector heard from the FDF boss about the challenges the sector has faced since the pandemic, conflict in Ukraine and the recent cost-of-living concerns, with Betts highlighting a “growing sense of optimism” within the sector.

In the speech, she focused on opportunities for innovation and growth across four areas.

Environmental sustainability

In the first part of her speech, Betts spoke of how members of the FDF, as well as the organisation itself, were working on reaching net zero and reducing GHGs, while achieving a circular food system with economical sustainability that provides people with fair, healthy food. In regard to this work, she said that the “transformation needed towards a sustainable food system must accelerate.”

Betts said: “A clearer vision is needed and more ambition across all aspects of the challenge; more and better-defined policies; better coordination and collaboration between all actors – from food companies to farmers, Government departments and finance institutions – and a step change in the finance available.”

Innovation and technological change

Betts also stressed the importance of maintaining the pace of transformational R&D in the industry, in order to “develop novel ways of tackling the challenges ahead” as the food industry looks to work more with Government.

“For the Government in the UK, encouraging investment in advanced manufacturing has so often been about capital intensive industries like cars, aerospace, shipbuilding and steel,” said Betts. “We are starting to gain traction with the argument that supporting innovation in our sector and fostering investment in technology (like robotics) and science (like novel ingredients) is key to our food security and to health.”

Labour and the workforce

Looking at the labour struggles the food industry has faced, particularly since Brexit, Betts told guests that the industry was keen to “rapidly” implement the recommendations of Defra’s Independent Review Into Labour Shortages, and said that “allied to this is how we ensure the roles that can be automated, alongside ensuring we have skilled workers to manage more advanced sites”.

With this, she said: “An increased use of technology doesn’t mean fewer jobs, but the creation of more, higher skilled ones.”

Healthy and sustainable diets

In the final part of her speech, Betts outlined that the FDF would focus on three areas to support balanced diets while reducing environmental impact.

The areas of focus will be in:

• Developing “new, healthier products” while changing recipes of products to reduce calories and increase fibre
• Working with MoreLife and Leeds Beckett University to “identify how our companies support the long-term health both of their employees and of the communities within which they’re based
• Researching responses to lifestyle and nutrition messaging, while considering how simple changes could have a more “positive impact”.