The UK and Scottish Government alongside farming unions and supermarket bosses are meeting in Westminster next week for a Food Summit.

Battle lines are being drawn as food producers get ready to argue for market returns to cover the cost of production whilst retailers and governments will be demand a cut to food prices to tackle inflation.

The UK inflation rate has stubbornly refused to fall compared to other economies such as the US. The price of food is seen as a key driver in inflation and the UK government believes the cost of groceries is key to turning the situation around. 

The meeting was initially agreed last year when prime minister and Richmond MP Rishi Sunak made a commitment to the farming industry to host a Food Summit.

The Scottish government has confirmed that senior officials will be attending the “Farm to Fork” summit on May 16 at 10 Downing Street.

The meeting is likely to discuss the need to increase domestic food production amid heightened inflation and fresh produce shortages.

Supermarket bosses are being asked by the UK Government to turn the corner on food inflation. If prices continue to rise then many of Whitehall’s financial forecasts could fall short of reality and put additional pressure on spending plans. The BRC published data last week which put fresh food prices hitting a record jump of 17.8% year on year.

NFU President Minette Batters is clear that the best way to tackle the situation is to make it an annual initiative to boost British food production.

She said it would 'mark a turning point' in how previous governments had prioritized the supply of UK produced food.

“The past 18 months have been a stark reminder of how vulnerable the nation’s food security is," Mrs Batters said.

"It has been a wake-up call for the importance of a secure domestic supply of food, and it is vital that the summit delivers actions, not just words.

"A start would be a serious commitment from government to maintaining Britain’s food production self-sufficiency level at 60%."

The NFU president also called for a statutory duty to report on domestic food production and utilise powers under the Agriculture Act to make supply chains fairer.