The National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging the UK government to prioritize domestic food production equally with environmental concerns.
- Defra data indicates that the UK achieves a 60% self-sufficiency rate in food production.
- NFU President Minette Batters warns against the drop in self-sufficiency below 60%, urging legislative action.
- Concerns rise over agri-food inflation and supply chain disruptions due to global events like the Ukraine conflict.
- Climate change and economic challenges necessitate stronger food supply resilience and reduced reliance on imports.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has issued a significant call to action, requesting the UK government to assign the same level of importance to domestic food production as it does to environmental issues. Currently, government statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) demonstrate that the United Kingdom’s food self-sufficiency stands at 60%. However, NFU President Minette Batters is pressing for legislative measures to ensure this percentage doesn’t fall any lower.
Highlighting the current challenges, Batters emphasizes the need for government intervention, citing a concerning 19.2% rise in agri-food inflation. She points to the volatility in the global food system, disrupted by geopolitical events such as the conflict in Ukraine and weather abnormalities, exemplified by the driest February on record since 1993.
Batters asserts that such disruptions necessitate a more resilient and well-prepared food supply chain. With extreme weather patterns, including unseasonal heavy rain in July and August, the impact of climate change is starkly affecting agriculture. Farmers across Southern Europe battling wildfires, and in the UK, the excessive expenses farmers face in drying rain-soaked grain, underscore the urgent need for action.
Furthermore, the NFU has highlighted potential over-reliance on food imports, raising concerns about vulnerabilities within the UK’s supply chains. The call for the government is clear: there must be a concerted effort to minimize dependence on imports, particularly as other nations grapple with their own economic and climatic adversities.
The NFU’s plea stresses an urgent need for strategic government action to bolster the UK’s food production and supply resilience, underscoring the intricate connection between climate change, economic factors, and food security.
