A recent report emphasizes the urgent need to protect the UK’s food supply amid challenges like climate change, tariffs, and global insecurity. It highlights that the UK’s food system, established after World War II, is struggling to keep up with today’s demands.
Despite the UK’s Brexit decision eight years ago, the nation still lacks a clear food policy. Shockingly, about a third of our food still comes from the European Union. This uncertainty raises significant concerns about our food security.
Tim Lang, a food policy expert at City St George’s, University of London, urges the government to create new laws ensuring that citizens have access to food during crises. He suggests enhancing domestic food production and updating distribution systems. Initiatives like town-to-town food education exchanges and research into stockpiling could help us prepare better for potential food shortages.
Lang stresses the importance of focusing on resilience at all levels, from local communities to national initiatives. He points out a disconnect between the government’s optimistic view of food security and the reality experienced by those working in the sector. There’s a sense of complacency that could put us at risk.
Several factors are threatening our food supply. The ongoing war in Ukraine has impacted vital exports like wheat and sunflower oil. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has created economic disruptions, and extreme weather has led to poor harvests, like the second worst in 40 years in the UK last year.
The report involved insights from over 70 individuals from various sectors, including the food industry, government, and local communities. These experts provided recommendations on how to enable communities to better withstand food shortages.
Learning from grassroots initiatives is essential. Many local efforts are already ahead of government plans, working to improve community resilience to food supply shocks.
Lord Toby Harris, chair of the National Preparedness Commission, emphasizes that food security is key to our overall resilience as a nation. He calls for a unified approach to ensure that everyone in the UK has access to food during future crises.
The report’s release coincides with a letter from major food organizations, including the National Farmers’ Union and several large supermarkets, urging the Treasury to reconsider new inheritance tax changes. They argue that removing certain tax reliefs could jeopardize the long-term stability of our food system.
