Norfolk calls for agri-food to be priority sector in Modern Industrial Strategy

Agri-food's omission from the list of growth-driving sectors in the Modern Industrial Strategy (MIS) could hamper future opportunities for clean energy and other key sectors, Norfolk County Council and partners have warned the Government. 

In a letter to the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner, the council has joined with other public sector bodies to highlight the urgent need for agri-food to be given greater significance in the strategy. 

Invest 2035: the Modern Industrial Strategy Green Paper was published by the Government last October and the letter is in addition to the council's consultation response.  

It provides a case for the inclusion of agri-food by evidencing its growth-driving role and economic impact across the key sectors announced in the paper and recognises its importance for helping the UK achieve food security - a priority area highlighted in Labour's 2024 election manifesto. 

The MIS prioritises productivity gains, growth potential, contribution to Net Zero, regional growth and economic security and resilience, as well as promoting industries with evidence of UK strengths and capabilities. Agri-food, however, is not among them. 

The letter states: "Through the omission of agri-food, the Government risks missing out on the benefits that this sector can bring to the economy, and hampering the opportunities for growth-driving sectors, such as clean energy. 

"So that these benefits can be realised, Norfolk County Council and partners are calling for agri-food to be incorporated into the MIS as a standalone growth-driving sector. Not only could this enable agri-food to have a consistent footing within government policy and gain the attention it merits, but it could enable the sector to receive the support it needs to thrive. 

"A flourishing agri-food sector will act as a cornerstone of the economy and help the government to realise the ambitions outlined in the MIS." 

The response was prepared by Norfolk County Council in collaboration with the Norfolk and Suffolk Agri-Food Industry Council, Suffolk County Council and Greater Lincolnshire LEP, and is supported by colleagues from across rural England from the North East to the South West. 

It highlights the importance of agri-food as a contributor to the local and national economy, evidencing the potential for the sector to generate high-growth opportunities, using data on key growth and productivity metrics published by Defra. The response also details the agri-food sector's important role in generating economic resilience through establishing food security in the UK and being an economic enabler of five of the eight growth-driving sectors announced in the paper. 

Cllr Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for Economic Growth at Norfolk County Council said: "The MIS has selected sectors that are already demonstrating high levels of productivity.  However, it overlooks high-potential sectors where investment will improve value creation, such as the application of precision agri-tech within the agri-food sector.  

"Agri-food plays an enabling role across multiple key sectors in the MIS, including life sciences, digital and tech, advanced manufacturing and clean energy. It will reduce demand-side pressures across the economy, creating a ripple effect in productivity gains in the long run." 

Defra figures demonstrate that agri-food is a key contributor to the UK's economic stability, especially in the context of food security. British trade in food products is rising year on year: 2022 saw a 12.7% increase in the export of food, feed and drink exports totalling £24.9 billion.  

The biggest export partner for food is the EU, which accounts for 60% of the UK's agricultural exports. By specialising in the exporting of chocolate, cheese, salmon, whisky, and meat products, the UK has leveraged its strengths as a food producer to agree multiple free trade agreements (eg, Australia and New Zealand) since its departure from the European Union. 

Agri-food is also a key source of employment for the UK. In 2022, the sector employed 4.2 million people (13% of all employees). In the 12 months to December 2022, employment in the agri-food sector increased by 3.3%. Employment across the whole economy rose by 3% over the same period.