As we countdown to the General Election and look towards a period of new government, we are publishing a short series of blogs focussing on the realities of delivery in government. In #TheFoodConversation with citizens across the UK, there is one idea that crops up again and again. Without prompting, citizens often come up with the idea of appointing a Food Systems Minister. They argue that a Food Systems Minister could bring together different parts of government and signal the importance of food as a foundational element of our economy.

We’ve asked some of the people in our network, experts in food and farming, public health and the environment, and – crucially – policy delivery, to take this idea one step further and imagine what they would do if they were Food Systems Minister.

So far, Soil Association CEO Helen Browning OBE, leading public health expert Dr David Pencheon OBE and FFCC Chief Executive Sue Pritchard have all laid out their priorities if they were to have the job of Food Systems Minister.

Over the coming months, we'll be asking others – including citizens, farmers and business leaders – to tell us what they'd do if they were a Food Systems Minister.

Read Helen, David and Sue's blogs above.