The report was launched on Tuesday 5 January 2010 at the Oxford Farming Conference, where Hilary Benn, MP outlined the need for sustainable and healthy food in the UK, and the importance of educating consumers about the benefits of this.

RFG Chief Executive Jonathan Knight says: "Food security is a real issue and it's clear that part of the solution is to produce more food in the Region: it's also clear that an efficient and productive local food economy is a critical ingredient to this challenge.

"Small producers are often seen as insignificant in the grand scale of things, but as the growth of some of our local producers has demonstrated, they can be real exemplars of how to innovate and grow effectively.

"Yorkshire and Humber is such a crucial player in the UK food economy, producing 23% of the UK's beef, having 64% of the country's pigs and producing 32% of all peas and beans in the country: our contribution to the UK's future needs is very daunting. We are very fortunate that Yorkshire Forward set up the Regional Food Group some years ago, and we, and our growing number of local food producers, are well on the road to meeting the challenge.

"The report points out that the key challenge for local bodies and organisations like RFG is to support small and medium-sized businesses and the RFG works with SMEs to help them build their businesses.

"To develop a resilient, profitable and competitive food system, RFG holds annual Meet the Buyer events, safeguarding jobs in the region and generating millions of pounds of deals for local businesses (£3.5m worth of new business was secured in 2009 alone). This year's Meet the Buyer in April is set to exceed all targets."

In line with the Government's pledge to promote traditional and regional speciality foods, the RFG is encouraging a greater uptake of the EU Protected Food Name scheme in the Yorkshire and Humber area. The area has recently seen smoked fish from Grimsby gain this protected status and decisions are awaited for both Wensleydale Cheese and Yorkshire Indoor Forced Rhubarb.

Jonathan continues: "RFG is dedicated to promoting local food through its championing deliciouslyorkshire brand, which enables consumers to make informed choices of local and regional food for a healthy diet. We also wholeheartedly support the need to establish clear and unambiguous country of origin labelling."

Ahead of the Government's plans to increase access to emerging markets through public procurement, RFG holds routes to markets events such as Meet the Producer for bodies such as the NHS. Through RFG, Yorkshire dairy farmer David Oversby won a contract to supply local hospitals, enabling him to widen his sales avenues and reduce vulnerability associated with supplying individual sectors.

The report also details a need to increase the impact of skills, knowledge, research and technology. With a dedicated technical team, RFG is able to provide skills development, training and food safety guidance. RFG member Lacey's Cheese achieved SALSA accreditation with RFG's support, enabling the company to supply Sainsbury's stores nationwide.

Jonathan continues: "We are already showing that many of these initiatives work and look forward to working in partnership with the Government to support and implement its food strategy, helping to put Yorkshire and the Humber's food, and British food, on the table."