An Evaluation of the Food Data Transparency Partnership

Defra is responsible improving and protecting the environment.

The Authority aims to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities.

We also support our world-leading food, farming and fishing industries.

For further information please visit About us - Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Authority requires a Contractor to provide an Impact, Process, and Value for Money evaluation of the of the Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP).

The project is planned to commence in spring 2023 and last until January 2028.

The key objective of the FDTP is to transform the impact the food system has on health, environmental and animal welfare outcomes, by: • Creating the right incentives for industry to sell and promote healthier food produced to higher animal welfare and environmental standards. • Allowing consumers to make better informed purchasing decisions based on clear, standardised, and trusted information • Supporting government to make effective policy based on more precise and timely information The Government announced its intention to establish the FDTP as part of the 2022 Government Food Strategy.

The FDTP is a multi-year partnership with the ambition to bring together government departments and agencies in England and the Devolved Administrations, including DHSC, the FSA and Food Standards Scotland, with representatives from across the whole food supply chain and civil society.

The FDTP aims to address the following challenges: • Insufficient and inconsistent data to drive effective policy making • Difficulty for some consumers to purchase food from companies which aligns with their values • Lack of a level playing field on what information is reported by the food industry, has resulted in companies not being adequately incentivised and supported to address the unintentional environmental, health and animal welfare harms created within the food system • Current marketing claims on environmental impact and sustainability are largely inconsistent, which can lead to consumer confusion • Data is not standardised or harmonised which leads to duplication, gaps, and inefficiencies • A need to streamline data reporting requirements for food and drink businesses to minimise the reporting burden on business. • The FDTP aims to implement several interventions to address these challenges.

This evaluation will consider three primary types of interventions