The UK’s food self-sufficiency is at a critical low due to Brexit challenges and extreme weather conditions, according to a new report.
Research by London-based food redistribution charity City Harvest showed only one in 10 food industry leaders were optimistic that UK food security would improve by the end of 2025.
City Harvest surveyed industry representatives, from producers through manufacturers to sellers and foodservice, for its annual Food Value Report.
The vast majority (77%) said the most significant challenge for Britain’s food industry in the coming year was increased production costs, largely attributed to to the post-Brexit regulatory landscape as well as adverse climate patterns.
Three out of four food industry respondents reported they had been affected by post-Brexit checks and charges so far.
For 71% of them, the biggest burden has been paperwork and administration, which increased significantly since the government rolled out new customs and SPS controls as part of its Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) in October last year.
Brexit effects will continue to be felt in 2025, with import checks expected to cost £200m to the fruit & vegetable industry once they come into place in July 2025, after being postponed over fears of potential shortages and rising prices.
The UK imports nearly half of its vegetables (48%) and over 80% of its fruits.
The government’s post-Brexit trade strategy has been ridden with delays and IT issues over the years. Labour recently pushed back the deadline for new safety and security declarations on EU imports meant to roll out this month.
This regulatory uncertainty was identified by 40% of City Harvest’s respondents as “a major challenge” for the upcoming year.
Extreme weather conditions have also threatened Britain’s self-sufficiency – nearly half of respondents identified reduced crop yields and delayed harvests as the top consequences of wet weather this year.
And with the Met’s Office prediction of destructive floods this winter, harvests are at a significant risk and food prices are “likely to rise in the upcoming year”, the charity warned.
Nearly two-thirds of industry leaders emphasised the need to diversify crops and invest into climate-resilient crop varieties to improve UK food self-sufficiency in the long-term.
The report also underscores the need for joined-up action to overcome the lack of confidence in better prospects – particularly cross-sectoral and cross-governmental co-operation, better conditions for British farmers, research and development, and the promotion of local food to consumers.
The farming sector is also struggling with labour shortages, with 42% saying it was their most pressing issue in the coming year as suppliers can’t retain enough seasonal workers to help during sowing and harvest seasons.
Moreover, nearly half of those surveyed said that investment into agriculture technology, such as weather forecasting and water management, was “particularly important” following Brexit, and 65% urged for greater government support for the UK’s domestic agriculture to improve self-sufficiency.
City Harvest CEO Sarah Calcutt said: “Our biggest priority is the delivery of a sustainable, healthy diet to those facing hunger, what this report clearly demonstrates is that we are all facing elements of food insecurity this winter, and the poorest will be the worst affected.
“Climate change, war, unstable geopolitics… it all has an effect on food supply systems and the rise in the cost of living is going to impact to an even greater degree on the 20% of our population already facing malnutrition and hunger.”
No comments yet