NFU highlights importance of UK food self-sufficiency

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) made the appeal on "self-sufficiency day" - the day that the nation's larders would run empty if we only ate food produced in the UK, starting from January 1.

According to Defra figures, the UK is currently 62pc self-sufficient in food. But while this figure has remained relatively stable during the past decade, some sectors have seen a recent decline.

For example, the UK’s self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables is at 53pc - its lowest since records began in 1988.

The NFU said the new Labour government must recognise the vulnerability of global food supply chains and the importance of a stable food supply in the UK.

This year, farmers and growers have also experienced one of the wettest winters and springs on record which the union says has put "untold pressure on food production and contributed to a collapse in farm business confidence" - causing a dramatic decline in the area of cereals planted for the 2024 harvest.

At the same time, record-breaking global temperatures have affected key exporting countries across the world. For example, imports make up 84pc of fresh tomatoes on sale in the UK, yet tomato imports from Spain and Morocco fell by 17pc in February 2023 compared to the five-year average.

With global and climate instability putting pressure on food systems all over the world, the NFU has suggested ways that the government can support domestic production - including an increased annual agriculture budget and a statutory commitment to ensure the UK’s self-sufficiency does not drop below its current level.

Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers' Union, at his farm near Colchester (Image: John Cottle)

NFU president Tom Bradshaw, who farms near Colchester, 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.

"That is why investment in Britain’s farming sector is so important, so where we can increase self-sufficiency in homegrown foods, we do.

"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.

"All of this chips away at business confidence and farmers’ ability to do what they do best – produce high quality, nutritious food for the nation.

"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."