Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Food security
- Sustainable production
- Healthier eating
- Environmental sustainability
- Levelling up
- Animal welfare
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced antibiotic consumption in animals by over 50% since 2014
- Commitment to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change in line with net zero commitments and biodiversity targets
Social Achievements
- Expansion of Seasonal Worker Visa Route to 40,000 visas in 2022, providing labor for food businesses
- Commitment to halve childhood obesity by 2030
- Investment in school food programs and school cooking revolution
- Continued funding for Healthy Start Scheme, free school meals, breakfast clubs, and Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Governance Achievements
- Introduction of powers to regulate commercial relationships between producers and processors to prevent unfair trading practices
- Consultation on contractual practice in the UK dairy sector
- Review of rules and regulations to ensure they are proportionate and based on the best available science
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Achieve net zero emissions and biodiversity targets
Medium-term Goals:
- Halve childhood obesity by 2030
- Increase the proportion of healthier food sold by 2030
- Reduce GHG emissions and environmental impacts of the food system by 2035
Short-term Goals:
- Streamline reporting requirements relating to the production and sale of food and drink by the end of 2023
Environmental Challenges
- Rising global food prices and global food security crisis
- Increased input costs for farmers (fertilizers)
- Workforce challenges in the agri-food sector
- Obesity and diet-related ill-health
- Food waste
Mitigation Strategies
- Measures to help farmers manage increased input costs
- Expansion of Seasonal Worker Visa Route
- Investment in research and innovation
- Randomized control trials of interventions to encourage healthier diets
- Improved food waste reporting for large food businesses
- Consultation on Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Alternative proteins
- Gene editing technologies