Benn told the House of Commons debate on food and farming last month: “Following an idea from the Council of Food Policy Advisers, I will bring together people from the horticulture industry to examine how we can grow more fruit and vegetables in the UK.”

NFU chief horticulture adviser Philip Hudson said: “It’s great that the secretary of state is aiming to pull a group together representing food-supply interests.

“If it’s about barriers that prevent the UK industry producing to its potential and responding to the challenge set by Benn, then lack of support for practical, grower-focused applied R&D is one of the most important.

“But we’d also like to talk about the regulatory barriers facing growers and the need to avoid a return to labour shortages in the future.”

Hudson said he hoped the meeting could be held before Parliament breaks up for the summer recess on 21 July.

Environment, food and rural affairs select committee chairman Michael Jack told the House of Commons that he recognised the incredible change undergone by the horticulture industry in order to survive.

He said Thanet Earth, the protected crops nursery in Kent, was “remarkable” and showed that “we can be innovative in a way that enables all parts of our agricultural potential to contribute to the task of securing our long-term food supply”.

But he described as “unacceptable” the 45% cut in real terms in publicly funded agricultural science between 1986 and 1998.

“It is ironic that within the past few days we learned that Manchester United had sold Mr Ronaldo – yes, a talented footballer – to Barcelona for, it is alleged, some £80m, as that sum somewhat exceeds Defra’s annual research budget,” he said.

- The Council of Food Policy Advisers was set up by Defra last October to advise on a wide range of food policy issues. It is chaired by Dame Suzi Leather and includes representatives from research and the food industry.