Defra report shows “alarming vulnerabilities” in the UK’s food security

NFU says workforce shortages and rising employer costs “could cripple many growers”, while Sustain says government must address reducing emissions from the food system

The UK Government has published an assessment of the threats facing UK food security. Defra’s Food Security Report for 2024 says that the UK continues to be “highly dependent” on imports to meet consumer demand for fruit, vegetables and seafood. 

Extreme weather events continue to have a “significant effect” on domestic production, particularly arable crops, fruit and vegetables. Also, the proportion of food secure households declined from 92% in financial year ending (FYE) 2020 to 90% in FYE 2023.

The report goes on to argue that a “long-term decline in the UK’s natural capital is a pressing risk to UK food production” and that climate change, nature loss and water insecurity pose “significant risks” to the ability of global food production to meet demand over the longer term.

Tom Lancaster, Land, Food and Farming Analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said: “These figures confirm the government’s warnings about food security. The rainfall and storms we saw last winter had a devastating impact on UK farming and come as part of a growing list of the climate impacts on our food system that we have seen in recent years.”
 
To avoid this in future, he called for farmers to be better supported to adapt and build resilience, including through more and better targeted green farming support.

Tom Bradshaw, President of the NFU, argued that the report showed a “broadly stable picture for domestic production” but he acknowledged that there were risks, including the decline in natural capital and workforce shortages. 

“…[National Insurance and National Living Wage increases could] “cripple many growers and come at a time when there’s already labour challenges in the sector”.

He added that increases to National Insurance and the National Living Wage would “cripple many growers and come at a time when there’s already labour challenges in the sector”.

Barnaby Coupe, Senior Land-Use Policy Manager at The Wildlife Trusts, said the charity was calling on the government to “outline a clear future for nature-friendly farm schemes as a matter of extreme urgency”. 

He said: “Farmers on marginal land with low food production – but that has high potential for nature restoration – stand to profit the most from ambitious new schemes, and today’s report shows this is equally valuable to UK food security.” 

Ruth Westcott, Climate Change and Nature Campaign Manager at Sustain, claimed the report revealed “alarming vulnerabilities” in the UK’s food system.

She said: “Climate change is the most pressing threat. It is dangerous and shocking that the government has failed to present any credible strategy to reduce emissions from the food system, which is both a major driver of climate change and increasingly at risk because of it. The new food strategy announced in December must set out how these issues will be addressed.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our country’s history.  

“Work is also underway on a cross-government food strategy which will make sure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet and nourish individuals, now and in the future.”