Honorary Ambassador joins Investor Coalition on Food Policy

One of the House of Lords' most high-profile peers has been appointed as Honorary Ambassador to the Investor Coalition on Food Policy

We are thrilled to announce that Baroness Joan Walmsley has kindly agreed to take on the role of Honorary Ambassador to the Investor Coalition on Food Policy.

Baroness Walmsley, who was Chair of the 2024 House of Lords' Food, Diet and Obesity Committee, has long been a passionate advocate for improving the food system, and has interests on issues such as health, agriculture, food, the environment, and science and technology.

In the course of her work she has highlighted the importance of investors being included in food policy discussions and the impact food businesses have on health outcomes.

In her new role she will focus on supporting the Coalition’s policy engagement and will also be representing the Coalition at certain events and in selected communications, helping to showcase the work of the Coalition and its aims.

The Food Foundation acts as the Secretariat for the Investor Coalition on Food Policy. Investors are increasingly aware of the material financial risks – systemic, direct and transition – associated with a failure to make healthier and more sustainable diets available and accessible for everyone.

The Coalition currently consists of 35 investors with over £6 trillion in assets under management or under advice. It exists to harness the power of the investment community to engage with the UK government on food system related issues.

The scope of the Coalition is well-designed regulation which is required to support the creation of a healthy, sustainable and affordable food system.

The mounting economic costs of diet-related disease and environmental breakdown are creating financial material risks for companies and the investors in these companies.

Diet-related ill-health has a significant impact on productivity and absence rates within UK companies, and environmental degradation and climate shocks are already impacting food businesses’ operations and resilience.

In light of the new government in the UK and the announcement of its plans to develop a new food strategy, now is an opportune moment to cement the investor voice as a key stakeholder in food policy discussions.

There are significant opportunities to be had if we can effectively address the risks currently posed and faced by the food system. Ultimately, creating a food system that is good for the health of our population is a prerequisite for a healthy financial future.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Baroness Walmsley and we look forward to collaborating with her.

Baroness Joan Walmsley said: "I am delighted to be able to help responsible investors realise their power to influence growth in food companies who wish to make their products healthier.

"Economic growth, which is one of the government’s primary objectives, can only be achieved if we do everything in our power to support the health of our workforce as well as our planet."

Sarah Buszard, Responsible Investor Lead at The Food Foundation, said: "We are thrilled that Baroness Walmsley has agreed to take on the role of Honorary Ambassador to the Investor Coalition on Food Policy.

"Her experience, knowledge and energy will be invaluable in helping us drive forward the Coalition's policy asks, pushing the government to create an enabling food environment in which everyone - citizens, investors, businesses, and our planet - can flourish."