Member News
21st September 2012This party conference season the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) will be promoting the work of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector and our 20/20 Vision of 20% sustainable growth by 2020. With a turnover of £76.7bn, our industry has continued to grow throughout the economic downturn, and we plan to use this conference season to consult delegates and identify how we can continue to this success.
Did you know that the UK’s food and drink manufacturers buy two thirds of all the UK’s agricultural produce? This is why we will be teaming up with the NFU again, and guest Chair Julia Glotz from The Grocer, to host events at the Liberal Democrat and Labour Party conferences. The ‘Food and Farming Debate’ is the theme for Liberal Democrats with Food and Farming Minister David Heath MP, Tim Farron MP and Baroness Parminter. At Labour we will discuss ‘How can research and development deliver affordable food security?’ with Mary Creagh MP and Huw Irranca-Davies MP.
We will also be raising the profile of manufacturing and its importance to the UK’s future economic growth. Together with EEF and the Fabian Society we plan to thrash out the topic ‘Going for Growth: The new relationship between Government and the economy’ at two roundtable events with speakers Lord Razzall and Vicky Pryce at the Liberal Democrat and Lord Adonis at Labour Party Conference.
Finally at Conservative conference our focus will be on green growth, when we host a dinner with guest speaker Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Sustainable growth remains core to everything we do and we are committed achieving a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations to come.
To find out more about FDF and our conference events visit www.fdf.org.uk or contact us at parliament@fdf.org.uk
During the Party conferences we will be 'tweeting' about the latest from our fringe events – @Foodanddrinkfed #fdfpartyconf.