National Farmers’ Union calls for action to bolster food security as ‘self-sufficiency day’ highlights risks

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is using today’s “self-sufficiency day” to issue a stark warning about the UK’s food security, urging that more must be done to prevent the country’s self-sufficiency from declining further. On this day, which marks when the nation’s food supplies would run out if only homegrown produce were available, the NFU is calling for a renewed focus on boosting domestic food production.

According to figures from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK is currently 62% self-sufficient in food, a level that has remained relatively stable over the past decade. However, the NFU has pointed out worrying declines in certain sectors, notably fresh vegetables, which are now at their lowest self-sufficiency level since records began in 1988, standing at just 53%. In addition, the country’s reliance on imports for fresh fruit is at an alarming 84%, and there has been a drop in potato self-sufficiency, from 74% in 2021 to 62% in 2023.

Farmers face growing challenges, including one of the wettest winters and springs on record, alongside the global effects of climate change, which have disrupted crop production in key exporting countries. Furthermore, UK farmers are contending with reductions in farm support payments as the country transitions from the EU’s subsidy system to one based on environmental goals. Rising production costs, exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine, are also placing additional strain on the sector.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw emphasised the importance of a stable domestic food supply, saying: “Farmers are essential to the UK’s food and drink sector, which is worth £146 billion and supports over four million jobs. Investment in farming is critical to increase self-sufficiency where possible and ensure the UK can continue to feed its population.”

The NFU has welcomed statements from the Labour Government acknowledging food security as a national priority. Bradshaw has called for a multi-year agricultural budget and a statutory commitment to maintaining current levels of self-sufficiency. The organisation is also pushing for a food security impact assessment for all policies affecting agriculture and horticulture.

The union also calls for measures to ensure that food imports meet the same environmental and production standards as those required of British farmers. Furthermore, the NFU advocates for updates to national planning policies to support food production and encourages policies that would promote growth within the UK’s horticulture sector.

In response, a Government spokesperson stated: “This Government recognises that food security is national security. We are working to strengthen the sector through a new deal for farmers, ensuring fairer supply chains, and protecting farmers from being undercut in trade deals. We are also working to optimise farming schemes to improve food security and nature recovery.”