The visit comes ahead of the UK-EU Summit on 20th November, at which the UK and EU are expected to finalise a new SPS sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement covering food, animal and plant health rules.

Defra said that in 2025, UK food, feed and drink exports to the EU were 24% lower than in 2018 in real terms after adjusting for trade price inflation, a drop of £4.7 billion, driven by trade frictions and barriers. It said that the EU remains “by far the UK’s largest market” for red meat exports, taking around 80% of the value of UK exports in 2025.

Government modelling suggested an SPS agreement could increase UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by around 16%. Industry has set a target of growing UK food and drink exports to £35 billion by 2035, up from the current £26 billion, with most of that growth expected to come from the EU market. Defra sits on the industry-led Export Task Force working towards this goal.

Food Security Minister Stephen Morgan said: “Visiting one of the largest global food and farming trade shows has shown exactly why British food and drink is worth shouting about, from award-winning cheddar to a popcorn brand now selling in 32 countries.

“What struck me most was the sheer confidence and ambition on display. This is a sector that knows it can win on the world stage if we clear the obstacles out of its way.

“That’s exactly what the food and drink deal we’re negotiating with the EU will do, stripping away the paperwork and checks that have held back trade with our biggest market.

“Get that right, and this isn’t just a good week in Paris, it’s a shot in the arm for British farms and food businesses for years to come.”