Egg producers gain seat at the table in Defra poultry plan

Published on : 3 Jun 2026

BFREPA has successfully secured representation for egg producers, ensuring the free range egg sector has a voice in discussions

The egg sector is set to be included in the government's developing Poultry Sector Growth Plan following discussions at the Farming and Food Partnership Board, giving egg producers a voice in a process that stems directly from Baroness Minette Batters' Farming Profitability Review.

BFREPA Head of Producer Engagement and Strategy Gary Ford has been invited to attend a Defra meeting in London on 10 June to discuss the inclusion of the egg sector within the plan, which forms part of the government's wider strategy to strengthen food security, improve resilience and help farm businesses remain profitable and sustainable.

The invitation follows confirmation that poultry has been selected as one of the first sectors to receive a dedicated growth plan under the government's new Farming and Food Partnership Board. The board was established following recommendations made by Baroness Minette Batters in her independent Farming Profitability Review, which was commissioned by Defra to examine the challenges facing farm businesses and identify practical measures to improve profitability, resilience and long term sustainability across agriculture.

Published in December 2025, the review made 65 recommendations aimed at improving farm profitability and strengthening domestic food production. Among its proposals was the creation of a new Farming and Food Partnership Board to bring together government, farmers, food businesses and other industry leaders to identify barriers to success and help shape future policy.

Early discussions around the Poultry Sector Growth Plan largely focused on the poultry meat sector. However, BFREPA has successfully argued for the egg sector to be included, ensuring that free range egg producers have an opportunity to help shape future policy development.

Defra announced earlier this year that horticulture and poultry would be the first sectors selected for detailed growth plans, recognising their strategic importance to UK food security and the opportunity to improve long term resilience across key supply chains. The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is one of the first sector-specific initiatives to emerge from the Batters Review, alongside similar work in horticulture.

The work also links closely to Defra's Land Use Framework, which seeks to balance food production, environmental delivery, housing, energy infrastructure and nature recovery across England. Within that framework, ministers have highlighted food security and national resilience as key priorities.

The growth plans are expected to examine issues including investment confidence, planning policy, supply chain relationships, market opportunities, regulatory burdens and long term sector resilience. Government has also indicated that improving the quality and availability of industry data will be an important part of helping farm businesses make informed decisions and future proof their operations.

Gary Ford said: "Egg producers play a vital role in UK food security and national resilience, so it is important that the sector is fully represented as Defra develops its Poultry Sector Growth Plan. This is an opportunity to ensure the realities facing egg producers are properly understood and that future policy supports profitable, sustainable businesses that can continue supplying British consumers with high quality eggs."

The meeting on 10 June is expected to provide an early opportunity for industry representatives to discuss the priorities that should shape the plan and identify practical measures that could support resilience, investment confidence and long term sustainability across the free range egg sector.