Farmers have warned that Britain is losing its ability to produce its own food, making the UK increasingly reliant on imports from overseas at a time of global instability, including the war in Ukraine and fears of a wider conflict in Europe with Russia. Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers' Union (NFU), stated, "We can’t rely on the rest of the world to feed us."
According to NFU figures, the amount of food produced in the UK has fallen significantly over the past 30 years due to rising costs, disease outbreaks, and extreme weather. Production of commodities such as wheat, oilseed rape, pig meat, and fresh vegetables has declined since 1995.
The production of fresh vegetables in the UK dropped by 20.9% between 1995 and 2024, while domestic potato production fell by 37.2% in the same period. The NFU is calling for food targets to be implemented to reverse this decline. Even in areas where domestic production has increased, such as fresh fruit, eggs, and poultry, demand has outpaced supply.
Mr. Bradshaw commented, "Our report today paints a stark picture of falling production and an increasing reliance on imported food while at the same time the world is becoming more unstable. Successive governments have sleepwalked into making it harder to produce food at home, leaving Britain increasingly reliant on imports produced to standards that would be illegal here. The food scare in eggs in recent weeks is a tragic reminder of what happens when we get this wrong."
UK authorities reported in August that nearly 500 people fell ill with salmonella linked to imported eggs.
Mr. Bradshaw further warned that food security is threatened by farmers facing a combination of drought, disease, and rising costs. Britain experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with much of the country suffering from drought due to low rainfall and high temperatures.
"At the same time, policy uncertainty, chronic underinvestment and a restrictive planning system are eroding Britain’s ability to produce its own food. This must and can be reversed," Mr. Bradshaw added.
The article also references a past instance where the Labour government's proposed inheritance tax changes on agriculture led to protests and a subsequent U-turn. The NFU also noted that UK agriculture receives less government support compared to farmers in the EU, US, Canada, and New Zealand.
"Despite these pressures, British farmers continue to deliver jobs, growth and food, while playing a crucial role in supporting rural communities, as their firefighting efforts this summer have shown. With the right backing, they can do even more. Clearly defined targets for food production and a set of core standards are the start. A planning system that enables growth and a tax system that recognises the need to invest are crucial," Mr. Bradshaw concluded.
