Results from a UK citizens' panel suggests people support a shift towards a healthier and more sustainable national diet including eating less meat and dairy, according to new research findings published as a policy brief by the Energy Demand Research Centre (EDRC).
However, results from the panel also suggest people support the need to retain freedom of choice, and recognise that a wide variety of individual diets would persist.
The UK's new land use framework consultation, launched in January, is shining a spotlight on what we eat and how we produce it. With millions kicking off the year aiming for healthier and more sustainable diets (such as by taking part in Veganuary), the conversation is growing around the food industry's impact on the planet, rising NHS costs from diet-related diseases, and the need for a nationwide shift in eating habits.
Researchers from Lancaster University and the University of Leeds, as part of the EDRC, are working with a 'citizens' panel' to gain insight into public opinion around reducing energy demand and emissions from key sectors. The citizens' panel of 40 people, carefully selected to reflect the UK population, discussed how food systems could evolve to benefit both people and the planet.
Panel members were asked to discuss the question: 'What could a healthier and more sustainable national diet look like, what may prevent or support us reaching that, and how we can ensure that changes work for everyone?' Their discussions led to the creation of a citizen-led scenario of possible futures.
The findings of their discussions, published today by the EDRC in a new policy brief 'Engaging citizens on policy scenarios for dietary change', suggest key public priorities and concerns.
The panel members supported reducing the amount of meat and dairy we eat as a nation, though the extent of that reduction varied across the panel. In the panel's future scenario most people in the UK would still eat meat and dairy, but generally in smaller amounts and less often.
However, the panel identified major obstacles, including a lack of public knowledge and practical skills around healthy, sustainable eating. The panel stressed that government action is essential, not just through awareness campaigns, but by equipping people with the tools, skills, and support needed to change their everyday habits. The panel suggested this could include education in schools and skills to plan, budget for and prepare healthy sustainable food.
However, the panel was clear that governments should not impose dietary change through bans or punitive taxes, which could disproportionately affect lower-income groups. They were also keenly aware of the risks of poorly designed regulation leading to unintended consequences and negative effects on consumers, small business and farmers.
Instead, the panel favoured collaboration between the government and the food industry to make sustainable options more affordable and accessible. If voluntary action fails, strong, carefully designed, regulation should follow.
Dr Andy Yuille, from Lancaster University and lead author of the policy brief, said: "The panel as a whole supported a reduction in overall meat consumption. Although there were differences in views about the extent of this, the panel findings clearly suggest that people are open to changing their diets and, in particular, eating less meat and dairy, with parallel changes to UK farming. They recognise that this will only happen with consistent, long-term government support to help change current routines and habits. However, panel members are sceptical of any government's ability or willingness to do this. The UK Government has an opportunity to work with what citizens want and support us to eat and farm in ways that are healthier for people and the planet."
Another key finding from the panel was strong support for eating more domestically grown food. To achieve this, the panel backed policies to:
- Ensure food imports meet UK sustainability and animal welfare standards.
- Reform farm subsidies to encourage more UK-grown fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
- Support farmers in producing less, but better, meat and dairy.
- Allocate more land for biodiversity and carbon storage.
The panel also recognised the challenges of implementing these changes at the necessary speed.
This citizens' panel was formed through a civic lottery, ensuring a diverse mix of participants across age, gender, location, climate concern, and political views. After hearing from expert speakers, the panel deliberated on complex food policy issues, balancing evidence with their lived experiences. Their conversations were guided through by professional facilitators, led by public participation charity Involve.
"Bringing together diverse groups of people to discuss complex issues helps show what citizens want and are willing to accept, especially when they're well-informed and can share different perspectives," said Dr Yuille. "This approach can reduce the growing divide in public debates, move beyond oversimplified discussions, and lead to stronger policies that consider difficult trade-offs."
This panel is particularly novel in the way that it combines qualitative deliberation with quantitative modelling. Dr Alice Garvey, of the University of Leeds, a researcher and co-author of the brief, explains that:
"Combining public deliberation with modelling is really challenging, but we have to do this to help models better reflect how real people think and act."
The outcomes of the panel's discussions will be used to generate new, socially-informed scenarios as part of the Positive Low Energy Futures model - a comprehensive assessment of the role of reducing energy demand to meet the UK's net-zero target.
