The UK is no better prepared to feed its population in times of crisis than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the National Farmers' Union (NFU). President Tom Bradshaw said it was "criminal" that the nation is less than 20% self-sufficient in fruit. "If we are worried enough to be investing more in defence, we should be having the same conversation about food security," he stated.
Declining self-sufficiency
DEFRA data shows the UK produced 65% of its food in 2023, down from 78% in 1984. Fruit and vegetables remain the weakest categories, with only 15% of fruit and 53% of vegetables grown domestically. Professor Tim Benton, former UK food security ambassador, said: "At some stage, the brown stuff will hit the fan and government will have to decide that it will need to invest in new ways to make sure this works."
Structural challenges
Seventy per cent of UK farmland is used for livestock, with only 1% for fruit and vegetables. This reliance on imports leaves the country exposed to climate change, conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, and volatile trade policies.
Retail pressures add to the issue, with short contracts, low margins, and high energy costs discouraging long-term investment in crops such as apples. Thanet Earth in Kent, the UK's largest greenhouse complex, produces millions of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, but its scale highlights the heavy capital required. "The assumption that we can just offshore food production is dangerous," said Thanet Earth's Rob James.
Calls for policy reform
Experts say shifting diets could help, with government guidance suggesting an additional 1.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables should be consumed each year. Reducing meat and dairy could free land for horticulture.
Farmers want simpler planning rules, more government-backed loans, and investment in water and infrastructure. DEFRA has committed US$14.9 billion (£11.8 billion) during the current parliament and expanded the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme, but industry leaders say this remains insufficient.
Bradshaw concluded: "Somebody, somewhere has to be willing to pay."
Source: FreshTalkDaily