The Government is keen for public sector canteens and restaurants to offer a choice of nutritious and sustainable meal options, including plant-rich meals. However, specific menu decisions are best left to local canteen managers.

The Government is working with industry, on a Horticulture Sector Growth Plan aiming to grow the sector’s profit. This is a sector-led plan using sector expertise to set out a clear vision for growth of the sector and a practical pathway to deliver it.

Defra is also carrying out research to understand the growth potential of alternative protein technologies, including plant-based protein products.

The Government is monitoring scientific developments in alternative proteins and supporting UK Research and Innovation-funded initiatives such as the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre.

Sector Growth Plans (SGPs) will take a sector approach to focus on achieving good growth in the horticulture sector by improving farm productivity, increasing profitability, and strengthening the contribution of domestically produced food for national security. SGPs work with the Farming and Food Partnership Board to bring industry and Government together to develop a shared, evidence-based view of opportunities, constraints, and trade-offs. The Government and the Farming and Food Advisory Board have recognised significant profit and productivity opportunities in the horticulture sector, and work on the plan is already underway by the sector expert groups.

Defra is researching the sector’s growth potential, impacts on future emissions, and working across government to support innovation and scaling. Defra is also working with the Food Standards Agency to develop guidance for approval of new alternative protein products, including cultivated meat, while reviewing novel food regulations set out in the Food Strategy.

Whether the implementation of the Good Food Cycle strategy includes supporting the growth of the alternative protein sector.

I am happy to meet my hon. Friend and congratulate the company he mentions, which is leading the way in this area. We have a major national hub for plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-based research and development, which is at the forefront of progress in this exciting new area.

I thank the Minister for her response. The cultivated meat sector could bring in billions of pounds to the UK economy and help to increase food chain security. Companies such as Hoxton Farms are leading the way in this—they are genuinely world-leading. Will she support growth in this industry and meet me and Hoxton Farms to see how we can do it better?

The Government’s good food cycle strategy sees alternative proteins as a major opportunity, and not just for the economy but for health, sustainability and food resilience. We are backing the sector and working with the Food Standards Agency on novel food programmes to accelerate precision fermentation technology.

The Advertising Standards Authority regulates advertising in the UK across traditional forms of media and online. The UK Code of Non-Broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing, by the Committee for Advertising Practice, requires marketing communications to be legal, decent, honest and truthful. It includes rules on advertising to children, and on food, food supplements, and associated health or nutrition claims.

Under the Online Safety Act, platforms likely to be accessed by children must protect children from harmful and age-inappropriate content including eating disorder content and content which encourages self-administering of harmful substances.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the lead department for food safety, including food supplements. Local authorities, and district councils in Northern Ireland, are the enforcers of food law in their respective local authority areas. The FSA produces advice and guidance for businesses, local authorities and consumers.

While food supplements, including those that are imported, are not required to receive pre-market approval before being placed on the United Kingdom market, there is a legal duty on businesses to only place onto the market food that is safe. The FSA provides guidance for businesses to aid legal compliance and provides clarity to local authorities in the form of a toolkit to help support enforcement.

The FSA also provides advice for consumers on the consumption of food supplements containing caffeine, and it is currently working on general food supplements advice aimed at helping consumers consume supplements safely.

Legislation on Nutrition and Health Claims sets out the legal framework for businesses wanting to make nutrition and/or health claims on their products. A health claim is any claim that states, suggests or implies that health benefits can result from consuming a given food. These require health claims to be authorised on the basis they are supported by evidence and only health claims that are on the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims (GB NHC) Register of approved health claims can be used. The Register is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/great-britain-nutrition-and-health-claims-nhc-register.

Protein supplements are also regulated under Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as all other applicable food law. The labelling requirements set out in the regulations state that labelling needs to be clear and easy for consumers to understand.

Defra’s scientific research is exploring ways to reduce environmental impacts of livestock production, including research to better understand the role of insect protein in pig and poultry feed (not human diets) in addressing this aim. Examples include a scientific review of the opportunities for the inclusion of insect protein in pig and poultry feed within the UK (2021). Research also considered insect-based proteins (for food and feed), as part of a wider review of alternative proteins (2022). A life-cycle assessment of UK insect protein production compared the environmental impacts of insect, soy and fishmeal protein production for animal feeds in the UK (2023).

Defra has also committed funding via the Farming Innovation Programme and Farming Innovation Pathways for projects looking at insect protein in animal feed, including a themed competition addressing on farm protein.

The FSA report on the ‘The Future of Animal Feed’ was published in April 2023. The report analysed the production and supply of protein for the global livestock sector, focusing on the potential opportunities, and threats, of alternative feeds.

Under food law, it is the responsibility of food businesses to ensure food is safe. Edible insects, as novel foods, need authorisation from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which requires provision of a safety case. Food businesses wanting an authorisation will develop the research and evidence to demonstrate the food is safe for consumption.

The Government recognises the importance of innovative approaches and novel technologies to boosting productivity sustainably.

In August 2024, the Government’s UK Research and Innovation body (UKRI) invested £15 million in the new National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC). This National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre will drive research and innovation bolstering the alternative proteins sector in the UK, fostering innovation across a variety of protein sources, including plant-based proteins, cultivated meat and protein-rich algae.

Innovate UK and BBSRC have also invested £15.6 million to support innovation funding (32 projects) as part of the Novel Low Emission Food Production Systems competition to address sustainable agriculture. These industry-led, collaborative projects include development of alternative proteins such as plant-based and cultivated meat.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 20 December 2024, UIN 19689.

Our ambitious food strategy will set and deliver clear long-term outcomes that create a healthier, fairer, and more resilient food system, and in doing so will consider elements of the food system that can contribute towards those outcomes.

Defra directly supports innovative techniques by shaping and contributing to funding programmes open to our industry. Defra has so far invested over £4 million into industry led research and development for innovative solutions for sustainable on farm proteins via the Defra-UKRI Farming Innovation Programme. This will fund research and development to enhance the productivity and environmental impact of proteins that are grown or raised by farmers. Funding is split across early-stage feasibility projects, and industrial research projects.

Defra directly supports innovative techniques by shaping and contributing to funding programmes open to our industry. Defra has so far invested over £4 million into industry led research and development for innovative solutions for sustainable on farm proteins via the Defra-UKRI Farming Innovation Programme. This will fund research and development to enhance the productivity and environmental impact of proteins that are grown or raised by farmers. Funding is split across early-stage feasibility projects, and industrial research projects.

Defra is committed to the continued production of healthier, high quality and sustainable food and drink which remain of vital importance for both our economy and domestic food security. The alternative protein industry is a crucial part of achieving these food production aims, and Defra continues to support progress in the sector via funding and collaboration with Government colleagues to improve the regulatory framework. As the sector is diverse and at different stages of readiness and investment, Defra continues to partner with colleagues across Government in their engagement with industry.

Defra is committed to the continued production of healthier, high quality and sustainable food and drink which remain of vital importance for both our economy and domestic food security. The alternative protein industry is a crucial part of achieving these food production aims, and Defra continues to support progress in the sector via funding and collaboration with Government colleagues to improve the regulatory framework. As the sector is diverse and at different stages of readiness and investment, Defra continues to partner with colleagues across Government in their engagement with industry.