The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has highlighted the importance of increasing the UK’s self-sufficiency levels to help bolster food security.
The NFU said that if the nation only ate food produced in the UK from 1st January 2024, the national larder would run empty on 14th August, labelling it as a “Self-sufficiency Day”.
According to 2023 Defra figures, the UK is 62% self-sufficient in food, but while this reflects similar levels of the past decade, some sectors have seen a recent decline. For example, the UK’s self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables is at its lowest since records began in 1988 at 53%.
The NFU commented that global temperatures had also impacted key exporting countries across the world. Imports make up 84% of fresh tomatoes on sale in the UK, yet tomato imports from Spain and Morocco fell by 17% in February 2023 compared to the five-year average. In the same time period, imports of lettuce varieties fell by more than 36%, contributing to shortages on shop shelves as UK production also fell.
NFU asks Government to commit to a self-sufficient food chain
The NFU highlighted multiple ways the new Government could help to ensure self-sufficiency doesn’t drop in the future, including:
- An increased multi-year agriculture budget for the duration of this Parliament
- Ensure all new policies and regulations that impact agricultural businesses undergo a food security impact assessment
- Introduce a statutory commitment to ensure the UK’s self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level
- Ensure food imports are produced to the same standards as those that British farmers are required to meet by introducing a system of core standards for animal welfare and environmental impact
- A transition to new environmental schemes that are open to all farmers and growers
- Deliver manifesto commitment of introducing a target for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards
- Update the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to include a weighted argument in favour of food production, with the benefits of farming clearly recognised by the planning system to support food production across England
- Supporting growth in the UK horticulture sector.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Food from other countries will always form a proportion of our daily diets, but we must recognise the vulnerability of global food supply chains and the importance of a stable food supply here at home to our nation’s health, as well as its vital contribution to our economy.
“Farmers produce the raw ingredients that underpin our food and drink sector, the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, worth £146 billion and employing more than four million people. That is why investment in Britain’s farming sector is so important, so where we can increase self-sufficiency in homegrown foods, we do.
“Food producing businesses need the right policy framework and investment to boost confidence and resilience.”
He continued: “Think about the impact of the climate crisis right across the world. Blistering temperatures have caused issues with harvests across Europe, while here in the UK many farms spent the first few months of this year under water. At the same time, our farmers continue to face significant reductions in direct farm support payments and unsustainably high production costs due to the war in Ukraine.
“That’s why we welcome the Government’s recognition that food security is critical to national security. If we are to maintain, and where possible grow, our self-sufficiency in the face of global instability, food producing businesses need the right policy framework and investment to boost confidence and resilience so we can withstand climate and economic shocks.
Bradshaw said: “Central to this is an increased multi-year agriculture budget and a statutory commitment to ensure the UK’s self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level. We want to highlight the importance of boosting Britain’s ability to produce its own food so families across the country continue to have access to healthy, balanced and affordable meals – something we all have a right to.”
