AWARDED CONTRACT

Summary

This research will deliver comparative life cycle assessment for a basket of representative key commodities consumed in the UK. Domestic versus overseas production will be contrasted, as will in and out of season production where applicable. Impact 'hotspots' in UK production will be identified. The potential for emerging technology to reduce impacts will be appraised and the wider impacts of at scale adoption of those technologies identified. The findings will inform interventions to enable sustainable productivity growth in domestic commodity production.

Background

Defra aims to make our air purer, water cleaner, land greener and food more sustainable. Defra's mission is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, and to leave the environment in a better state. The food and drink industry is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK giving rise to a large environmental impact. The food chain (including agriculture) accounts for approximately 19% of the UK's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions , with just over half being from primary production. For Defra to meet obligations under the Climate Change Act (2008) and 25-Year Environment Plan (25YEP) targets whilst delivering under the UK Clean Growth Strategy, it is necessary to understand where and how the food system can become more productive and where environmental impacts and land-use for food production can be reduced, whilst taking account of socio-economic externalities and wider societal needs. This is also relevant for Defra's White Paper response to the recommendations of an independent review of the food system expected in 2021. Increased global trade in food and an increase in year-round food production has led to increased import to the UK of some food products and greater out of season domestic production of others. Further changes in the provenance of commodities imported into the UK may occur following the UK's withdrawal from the EU.