The UK’s food supply could be at risk from ecological collapse, a new government report warns, as the country cannot rely on food imports in an increasingly volatile global situation.
The findings come from a Defra analysis that looked at how global biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation could impact the UK’s national security.
The report warns that based on current diets and prices, the UK is not producing enough food to feed its people and remains heavily reliant on imports for both food and fertilizer.
Unless the resilience of the domestic food system and supply chains are significantly improved, the UK will struggle to maintain food security as ecosystem collapse increases geopolitical competition for food, the report says.
Biodiversity loss is recognized as one of the biggest medium- to long-term threats to domestic food production, along with climate change.
The report highlights soil degradation, pollinator decline and increased drought and flooding as the main risks facing UK agriculture.
Analysis shows that becoming completely self-sufficient is not easy. This would require “significant price increases” for consumers and significant investment in the agri-food sector to support innovation in sustainable production.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) said the report highlighted the dangers of over-reliance on overseas supplies in an unstable world.
NFU Vice-President David Exwood said: “Food production and environmental provision have always been closely linked and we cannot maintain resilient food systems without healthy soils, thriving pollinators and access to clean water.”
He described these as “vital resources” and said farmers and producers are committed to protecting them.
“As stewards of the land, farmers and producers have a responsibility and ambition to protect their land, and we need the investment now to enable us to do that,” Mr Exwood said.
The report suggests that several existing and emerging technologies may help reduce risks, citing pre-breeding of plants and regenerative agriculture as potential solutions.
Mr Exwood said many farmers were looking forward to policy support for the transition, adding: “Thousands of farmers are looking forward to the newly introduced Sustainable Farming Incentive to make this work possible.”
He warned that uncertainty around environmental planning was holding back progress, saying farmers “desperately need some certainty about their plans for this year and the years to come.”
As global pressures mount, Exwood said domestic resilience is becoming increasingly important. “We cannot rely on imports to sustain our livelihoods in an increasingly volatile geopolitical and climate situation,” he said.
He added that strengthening the UK’s food security must start at home, concluding that “investing in the nation’s food security must be a priority, and that starts with investing in land.”
