Place, People and Progress critical to resilient British poultry meat sector
Launching its 2025 annual report, setting out the minimum operating conditions required for the UK to maintain a secure, productive and resilient poultry meat sector, the British Poultry Council said poultry production was a cornerstone of national food security.
BPC chief executive Richard Griffiths said: “Food production is not a background function of the economy; it is foundational to our ability to thrive. But the operating conditions we rely on no longer reflect the realities of modern food production.”
Place – essential economic infrastructure
One of the major problems around ‘place’ was the current planning decisions, which were increasingly treating sites as a local inconvenience rather than a national capability. Blocked or inconsistent planning makes investment risky, shrinks capacity and undermines the infrastructure essential to feeding the nation.
When planning becomes unpredictable, productivity stalls, investment freezes, costs rise, affordability decreases, and the UK becomes more dependent on overseas production to fill gaps.
Infrastructure designed to support food security is weakened by fragmented local decisions and the BPC report says critical national infrastructure cannot function if the space it relies on is treated as optional.
It argues that the solution is to treat poultry meat production as Critical National Infrastructure and as essential economic infrastructure that underpins stable supply, investment and jobs. This requires:
- Permitted development reform – extending rights to enable essential upgrades such as welfare improvements and energy efficiency.
- Develop national planning guidance for food production – introduce guidance that recognises food production as essential and can be used across local authorities to ensure consistent decision-making.
The UK poultry meat sector directly supports 35,000 jobs, contributes £8.5 billion in GVA, and represents 0.3% of total GDP. It delivers a high-volume, high-standard source of affordable protein relied upon by millions of households.
The operating conditions that define production are not abstract. They are the foundations of stability and growth.
People – a workforce framework
Poultry production is a high-skill, national operation that relies on a trained workforce. Skills shortages, an inaccessible visa scheme and lack of recognition for sector-specific expertise weakens the entire supply chain from farms to processing plants.
The report says that without people, productivity weakens, and training pipelines break down. The solution should be to have a workforce framework that treats food workers as essential to the UK’s resilience and economic stability. The paper calls for 3 areas of action:
The operating conditions that define production are not abstract. They are the foundations of stability and growth.
People – a workforce framework
Poultry production is a high-skill, national operation that relies on a trained workforce. Skills shortages, an inaccessible visa scheme and lack of recognition for sector-specific expertise weakens the entire supply chain from farms to processing plants.
The report says that without people, productivity weakens, and training pipelines break down. The solution should be to have a workforce framework that treats food workers as essential to the UK’s resilience and economic stability. The paper calls for 3 areas of action:
- An ‘agri-skills taskforce’ that drives parity of esteem – this would align food production careers with national skills priorities, mapping clear development opportunities and recognised qualifications.
- Reform of the apprenticeship levy – re-evaluation of the levy to enable targeted upskilling and attract new entrants to food production careers.
- ‘AgriFood shortage occupation list’ – establish a dedicated route within the upcoming ‘temporary shortage list’, transitioning short-term visas into a sustainable year-round model for essential roles defined by function and contribution.
Progress – a level playing field
The major problem, according to the BPC, is the lack of a level playing field in UK-EU trade, which is undermining competitiveness, slowing exports and disrupting movement of goods. The UK now carries the cost of compliance without the benefit of fluidity.
When trade lags behind real-world production cycles, costs rise, movement slows, food is wasted and our relationship with our largest trading partners weakens.
The BPC argues that the solution is an SPS agreement which is as efficient and dynamic as the product it supports, maintaining food safety without creating friction that makes trade unviable.
It is calling for:
The major problem, according to the BPC, is the lack of a level playing field in UK-EU trade, which is undermining competitiveness, slowing exports and disrupting movement of goods. The UK now carries the cost of compliance without the benefit of fluidity.
When trade lags behind real-world production cycles, costs rise, movement slows, food is wasted and our relationship with our largest trading partners weakens.
The BPC argues that the solution is an SPS agreement which is as efficient and dynamic as the product it supports, maintaining food safety without creating friction that makes trade unviable.
It is calling for:
- Free trade and access to the customs union – secure seamless movement of food trade with the EU to protect just in time supply chains.
- Digital-first border processes – replace paper-based systems with real-time digital documentation.
- Risk-based border management – target checks where risk is highest, not where the product moves fastest.
Griffiths continued: “Our report identifies 3 pressure points – Place, People, and Progress – that determine whether UK poultry meat production holds or fractures. If one weakens, productivity stalls, capacity shrinks, costs rise, and dependence on overseas production grows.”
Building for growth
Recognising food as Critical National Infrastructure is only the beginning. The real measure of national strength is what follows:
Do we create planning systems that unlock innovation rather than stall it? Do we invest in people who make food not just available, but affordable and sustainable? Do we build trade pathways that connect our standards with our partners, not isolate them? Griffiths added: “If government are serious about kick-starting growth, we must build the conditions that allow essential economic infrastructure to thrive. This report sets out the steps needed to boost our productivity, strengthen our resilience, and keep the nation fed.”
Building for growth
Recognising food as Critical National Infrastructure is only the beginning. The real measure of national strength is what follows:
Do we create planning systems that unlock innovation rather than stall it? Do we invest in people who make food not just available, but affordable and sustainable? Do we build trade pathways that connect our standards with our partners, not isolate them? Griffiths added: “If government are serious about kick-starting growth, we must build the conditions that allow essential economic infrastructure to thrive. This report sets out the steps needed to boost our productivity, strengthen our resilience, and keep the nation fed.”
