NFU urges UK Government to prioritise food security
Ahead of the government’s forthcoming national security strategy, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has urged ministers to translate rhetoric into meaningful action.
The strategy, expected to be published tomorrow in conjunction with the NATO summit, will outline the government’s plans to protect the country amidst rising global instability. The NFU insists that food must be a central pillar of these efforts.
The government’s own manifesto states clearly that 'food security is national security', a message that ministers have repeatedly reinforced. This view is echoed by former MI5 director general Baroness Manningham-Buller, who has described food production as a vital component of the UK’s critical infrastructure.
Yet a recent report from the National Preparedness Commission paints a worrying picture of the nation’s food system. It highlights its vulnerability to shocks and calls for urgent measures to strengthen domestic food resilience.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw commented: “We are facing an increasingly volatile world. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report forecasts heightened global instability over the next decade, with conflict and economic shocks becoming more frequent and extreme weather events now the norm. It is therefore vital that food system resilience is treated as a strategic priority.”
He added: “The recent experience of empty supermarket shelves and rationing of fresh produce - driven by soaring production costs at home and poor harvests abroad - was a stark reminder of the fragility of supply chains.
“If ministers truly believe their own words and listen to the experts, they will grasp this opportunity to put food security at the very heart of our national security strategy. This isn’t merely an option - it’s an absolute necessity to safeguard the future of food for the whole nation.”
