A more robust system is needed to ensure imported food meets British standards, according to Agrantec.
Following the recent scandals over horsemeat, the call to 'Buy British' is growing ever stronger. Only by buying British, goes the argument, can you be sure of getting good quality and food which has been ethically produced.
Standards in British farming are amongst the highest in the world, however the UK cannot grow enough food to feed itself.
The country can, at best, manage to produce no more than 60% of its overall food requirements. Some food must be imported. Does this mean that we have to compromise on standards of quality and animal welfare?
According to agri-food company Agrantec, the only answer can be to require the same standards from all food which is imported for consumption in the UK.
"Although Government regulations only hold sway on a national basis, there is nothing to stop supermarkets and food brand owners from making their own corresponding requirements of suppliers" said Martin Coates, CEO of Agrantec.
NFU Peter Kendall said shorter supply chains and British sourced beef is needed as the horse meat scandal shows failings in the current system.
Kendall used his opening address at Conference 2013 to argue for a major shift in the way food is delivered.
New research shows customers want to see more British food on supermarket shelves with 82% of shoppers more likely to buy traceable food produced on British farms.
The fear of eating contaminated beef has caused many shoppers to be wary of all meat sold in supermarkets.
"This boils down to a clear and simple message: we need shorter supply chains" said Kendall, who was speaking in Birmingham.
"We must make that our collective ambition. But if British farmers are to deliver more of what the British consumer buys, it’s going to take a major shift in the way the food supply chain operates."
Most major farming groups have highlighted failings in the supermarket supply chains since the horsemeat scandal broke.
"The squeezing of their suppliers margins and the relentless search for profit through buying cheaper product is the reason horsemeat is in their products" the National Beef Association said.
Agrantec offers a food chain management system called Farmango.
This allows the full history of each animal that passes through a farm to be recorded and to be made available, under controlled conditions, to other members of the food supply chain.
This means that, if the reference number for the animal is passed down the chain, any chain member can see the full history.
Robin Burton, Marketing Manager at Agrantec said: "This means that brand managers can make claims about quality and animal welfare which are well backed up by solid evidence. It also means that they will have excellent visibility of the quantity of product available in the food chain, reducing their exposure to temporary shortages."
