Food prices set to increase significantly

​This is the strongly held view of food business analyst Dr Clive Black. He spoke at the recent Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) annual conference.

According to Black, UK consumers must be prepared to pay more for their food into the future.

“Food expenditure currently represents 9% of most household incomes,” he further explained.

“Previously, this figure was up at 40%. So there is significant scope for consumers to allocate higher proportions of their income to food and drink purchasing.”

Currently, Northern Ireland accounts for 15% of all the food produced in the UK.

Clive Black again: “There is no reason why this figure cannot be increased to 20%. And this expansion in output can be achieved in a wholly sustainable manner.”

Despite the hype that has recently surrounded laboratory cultured meat alternatives, the food business consultant believes that demand for grass fed beef and lamb, produced in the UK will increase.

“And this is more good news for the farming and food sectors in Northern Ireland,” he stressed.

Stormont farm minister, Andrew Muir, also addressed the NIFDA conference.

He said: “The food and drink processing sector is our largest manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland. But food delivers so much more beyond the economy and has a direct role to play in tackling a range of societal issues, such as obesity, food poverty, waste, climate change and biodiversity loss.

“I was proud to launch the NI Food Strategy Framework last year, which sets out a long-term vision for an innovative food systems approach and recognises the interconnectedness between food, health, the economy and the environment.

“An environmentally sustainable approach that protects and enhances our natural resources for future generations, whilst being economically ambitious and providing safe nutritionally balanced, accessible food for all.”

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The minister continued: “I believe in the quality Northern Ireland produce, and I believe whole heartedly in the potential of our agri-food sector to rise to the challenge of continuing to produce healthy, nutritious food, whilst doing more to tackle the climate and nature crisis.

“The agri-food sector has a huge amount to gain from taking an active role in improving our environment, and I am determined to support the sector in this endeavour.”

Courtesy of his presentation, NIFDA chief executive, Michael Bell, highlighted the importance of food and drink to Northern Ireland’s overall economy.

He commented: “The importance of food and drink to our economy cannot be overstated. Not only is our industry worth some £8.4bn and not only does it support 113,000 jobs, but it also feeds 10 million people across these islands and beyond.

“We play a key role in feeding the nation and protecting UK food security and global events in recent years have brought that role into sharp focus.

“The collective challenge facing our food and drink supply chain is to grow further, and meet the nutritional needs of a growing population, and doing so in the most sustainable way. It is a challenge the industry is taking seriously.

“We have the opportunity to make Northern Ireland the most sustainable region for food and drink production globally, and with continued investment and innovation we are working to make that vision a reality.”

The NIFDA representative concluded: “Our conference is unique in that it brings key figures from across manufacturing, transport, retail, academia and government to discuss these big questions, dive into the key market trends together, and to connect with each other.

“That spirit of collaboration between industry and policymakers is what this conference is all about and these conversations will continue as collectively we drive Northern Ireland food and drink forward.”