New DEFRA ministers urged to back plant-rich diets

A policy paper has been published that proposes ten policy measures the government can enact to increase production and consumption of plant-rich diets in the UK, in order to meet the goals outlined in the Good Food Cycle food strategy published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in July 2025.

The call comes as the recent National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) revealed that just 9% of children and 17% of adults meet the ‘five-a-day’ recommendation for fruit and vegetables. [1]

The 10-Point Plan has been endorsed by leading organisations and businesses from the food, farming, health, sustainability and animal welfare sectors, including the Food Foundation, the British Growers Association, Doctors’ Association UK, UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, Oatly and Compassion in World Farming.

The plan has been submitted to new Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Emma Reynolds, and Defra Minister, Dame Angela Eagle.

“The government has highlighted the need to break the cycle of intensive animal agriculture in the UK, and produce a genuine Good Food Cycle,” says Liam Lysaght, Campaigns Officer at Foodrise.  “This paper shows widespread agreement from health, environment, and food professionals that we can achieve those goals with practical, integrated, policies to promote more plant-rich diets. It’s a perfect ‘cheat sheet’ for the new ministers at Defra.”

69% of respondents in a poll conducted by the organisations behind the plan said that the government should do more to help people eat fruit, vegetables and other plant-based foods. [2]

“The evidence is unequivocal that people in the UK are not eating enough plant-based foods – in particular, vegetables, pulses, legumes, fruit, nuts, seeds and wholegrains – and that public health will improve if we can secure a transition towards more plant-rich diets. That dietary transition can reduce the burden of disease and ease pressure on the NHS. The government has everything to gain by taking action,” says Dr Matthew Lee, Sustainability Lead from Doctors Association UK.

The plan also calls for more government support for the horticulture sector in order to improve food security and economic growth, more encouragement for food supply companies to focus on sales of plant-rich products and to make it easier and more affordable for people to access and eat healthy food.

“Only 53% of vegetables and 16% of fruit are home grown. The right support from the government could transform our horticulture sector from one where growers struggle to make a profit into a vibrant contributor to our rural economy and food security,” [3] says John Walgate, CEO of the British Growers Association.

70% of respondents in the poll agreed that the government should support animal farmers to transition to more sustainable practices, such as rewilding or plant-based crop production.

Plant-based foods can also help meet the government’s environmental goals. A 2023 study published in Nature Food concluded that “plant-based diets produce 75 percent less heat-trapping gas, generate 75 percent less water pollution and use 75 percent less land than meat-rich diets”. [4]

Caroline Reid, Sustainability Director at Oatly says: ‘If the government is committed to a food system that promotes health, supports farmer livelihoods, reduces climate emissions and ensures nature thrives, it needs to ensure support and a level playing field for the companies and products that make the transition to plant-rich diets easy. Plant-based products not only contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, they also contribute to the public eating more fibre-rich, nutrient dense foods that come with a variety of health benefits including the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. It should be a no-brainer.” [5]

The Danish Government has already implemented a national action plan to promote plant-based foods and is seeking to use its current presidency of the Council of the European Union to introduce one across the EU. [6]

“Most importantly, our new polling shows that the vast majority of the public would like a healthier and more sustainable diet, they just need the government to set up the right conditions. With changes to procurement rules, supportive subsidy changes for farmers and a much-needed update to the Eatwell Guide, the government can use existing levers to meet its goals for the Food Strategy. In fact, it’s quite hard to see how they could ensure a resilient and sustainable food supply without doing so,” adds Liam Lysaght of Foodrise.

“We need to see the government commit to a change from the status quo and embrace these policies, to avoid the mistakes of the previous government’s Food Strategy.”

The Ten Points are:

1. Leverage public procurement and catering to source and provide more plant-based foods, normalising plant-rich diets and catalysing growth in the market.
2. Encourage food supply companies to transition towards a higher proportion of sales of plant-based foods.
3. Bolster food security and economic growth through support for the horticulture sector to produce more fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and pulses in the UK.
4. Support British farmers to increase production and provision of plant proteins for human consumption in the UK.
5. Make it easier and more affordable for people to access and eat healthy food.
6. Raise public understanding of the health and environmental benefits of healthy plant-rich foods and diets.
7. Improve labelling to raise public understanding of health, environmental and animal welfare impacts.
8. Improve training for health and food professionals in regard to healthy plant-rich foods.
9. Update, reform and apply the Eatwell Guide dietary guidelines.
10. Increase investment in and support for healthy, sustainable alternative proteins.