Lords Committee hears evidence from Defra and the NFU
23 October 2013
The House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy will this week take evidence from officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the National Farmers Union (NFU) on the EU’s contribution to food waste prevention.
In the week that Tesco announced it had wasted nearly 30,000 tonnes of food in the first six months of the year, the Committee will hold two evidence sessions on Wednesday 23 October in Committee Room 2 of the House of Lords. The effect of the relationships between retailers, such as Tesco, and food producers will be amongst the issues to be explored.
Witnesses
On Wednesday 23 October, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster
At 10.45am
- Colin Church, Director, Resource, Atmosphere and Sustainability, Defra
- Stephen Elderkin, Deputy Director, Analysis and Evidence, Resource, Atmosphere and Sustainability, Defra
- Laura Denison, Head of Food Waste and Carrier Bag Policy, Resource, Atmosphere and Sustainability, Defra
At 11.45am
- Anna Simpson, Environment Policy Adviser, NFU
- Paul Simmonds, Business Development Manager, Cornerways Nursary and Member of NFU Horticulture Board
The Defra witnesses will be asked to explain the government’s position that the European Commission’s target to halve food waste by 2020 is unrealistic. They will also be questioned on evidence suggesting that retailer demand for standardised fruit and vegetables is leading to overproduction and waste.
The NFU witnesses will be asked to expand on their assertion that retailer behaviour, including contracts to produce more food than required, leads to food waste.