The need to have a secure food system will be the biggest driver of future food and farming policy in the UK, the chief executive of Sofina Foods Europe, Ash Amirahmadi has said.
Delivering the annual George Scott Robertson memorial lecture at Queen’s University Belfast last Thursday, Amirahmadi pointed to China which continues to buy and lease farm land across the world to secure its long-term food supply.
That move is in response to major issues such as political uncertainty and climate change, which ultimately impact all countries.
“We do need to do more to prioritise production at home and strengthen supply chain relations for things we don’t make here,” said Amirahmadi.
During his address he called for a “radical” change to government policies and was especially critical of anything which takes land out of productive use.
“It is mad to turn land over to forestry that can be used for productive farming, particularly if it means we import more food,” he said.
He also took a swipe at local policymakers around the issue of the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP), pointing out that it must come with realistic timetables and goals, while not threatening commercial viability.
“We need a supportive, not an obstructive planning regime, to ensure solutions can be put in place, in practice,” he said.
Guest speaker Ash Amirahmadi OBE at the Scott Robertson memorial lecture in the Riddel Hall Belfast, Co Antrim. \ Peter Houston
Young people
During his lecture, Amirahmadi also identified other areas where change is required.
He said there was a need to attract younger people into farming and also food processing, where in the likes of the abattoir sector, many workers are over 50 years old.
Despite youth unemployment running at 16% and overall UK unemployment at a five-year high, he maintained that the food industry doesn’t have an identity and is often seen as a job to avoid.
To change perceptions and attract people from a diverse range of backgrounds, a marketing campaign is required across schools and colleges.
He also said that policymakers need to work and engage with farmers, while the wider food industry must continually look to change and innovate.
“Innovation will have a critical role to play in ensuring that higher production can be achieved without harming sustainability,” he said.
Weight loss
One issue that creates a “huge opportunity” for meat and dairy is around the rapid growth in the roll out and use of appetite suppressing drugs (GLP-1s), suggested Amirahmadi. People on the drugs end up eating less, so must consume more nutrient-dense foods to help ensure they get enough minerals, vitamins and protein.
Added to that are the modern generation, who are focused on healthy eating.
“I think there is quite a lot of upside for the protein sector – but if you are in confectionary, I would try to think about diversifying,” said Amirahmadi.
Sofina Foods
In 2023, Sofina Foods announced that Ash Amirahmadi was taking over as chief executive of its European operations. Prior to that Amirahmadi had been managing director of the UK’s largest dairy co-op, Arla UK.
Sofina Foods is a Canadian HQ company, owned by Michael Latifi. Only 30 years in business, it bought into Europe in 2021. It now has 24 sites in the UK and Ireland, Germany and France.
In 2021, Latifi bought the Eight Fifty Food Group, which came with the Karro pig business (including the Cookstown factory) and Young’s Seafood. In 2025, Sofina purchased the Downpatrick-based Finnebrogue.
Cookstown is one of the largest primary processing facilities in the UK, with around 800 staff, while Finnebrogue has over 1,000 employees. Sofina also owns a Young’s business in Kilkeel and Magees butchers in Asda stores.
The need to have a secure food system will be the biggest driver of future food and farming policy in the UK, the chief executive of Sofina Foods Europe, Ash Amirahmadi has said.
Delivering the annual George Scott Robertson memorial lecture at Queen’s University Belfast last Thursday, Amirahmadi pointed to China which continues to buy and lease farm land across the world to secure its long-term food supply.
That move is in response to major issues such as political uncertainty and climate change, which ultimately impact all countries.
“We do need to do more to prioritise production at home and strengthen supply chain relations for things we don’t make here,” said Amirahmadi.
During his address he called for a “radical” change to government policies and was especially critical of anything which takes land out of productive use.
“It is mad to turn land over to forestry that can be used for productive farming, particularly if it means we import more food,” he said.
He also took a swipe at local policymakers around the issue of the Nutrients Action Programme (NAP), pointing out that it must come with realistic timetables and goals, while not threatening commercial viability.
“We need a supportive, not an obstructive planning regime, to ensure solutions can be put in place, in practice,” he said.
Guest speaker Ash Amirahmadi OBE at the Scott Robertson memorial lecture in the Riddel Hall Belfast, Co Antrim. \ Peter Houston
Young people
During his lecture, Amirahmadi also identified other areas where change is required.
He said there was a need to attract younger people into farming and also food processing, where in the likes of the abattoir sector, many workers are over 50 years old.
Despite youth unemployment running at 16% and overall UK unemployment at a five-year high, he maintained that the food industry doesn’t have an identity and is often seen as a job to avoid.
To change perceptions and attract people from a diverse range of backgrounds, a marketing campaign is required across schools and colleges.
He also said that policymakers need to work and engage with farmers, while the wider food industry must continually look to change and innovate.
“Innovation will have a critical role to play in ensuring that higher production can be achieved without harming sustainability,” he said.
Weight loss
One issue that creates a “huge opportunity” for meat and dairy is around the rapid growth in the roll out and use of appetite suppressing drugs (GLP-1s), suggested Amirahmadi. People on the drugs end up eating less, so must consume more nutrient-dense foods to help ensure they get enough minerals, vitamins and protein.
Added to that are the modern generation, who are focused on healthy eating.
“I think there is quite a lot of upside for the protein sector – but if you are in confectionary, I would try to think about diversifying,” said Amirahmadi.
Sofina Foods
In 2023, Sofina Foods announced that Ash Amirahmadi was taking over as chief executive of its European operations. Prior to that Amirahmadi had been managing director of the UK’s largest dairy co-op, Arla UK.
Sofina Foods is a Canadian HQ company, owned by Michael Latifi. Only 30 years in business, it bought into Europe in 2021. It now has 24 sites in the UK and Ireland, Germany and France.
In 2021, Latifi bought the Eight Fifty Food Group, which came with the Karro pig business (including the Cookstown factory) and Young’s Seafood. In 2025, Sofina purchased the Downpatrick-based Finnebrogue.
Cookstown is one of the largest primary processing facilities in the UK, with around 800 staff, while Finnebrogue has over 1,000 employees. Sofina also owns a Young’s business in Kilkeel and Magees butchers in Asda stores.
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