UK experts urge government to treat food security as national security

More than 180 experts, including academics, farmers, and community leaders, have issued an open letter urging the UK government to treat food shortages as a matter of national security. The signatories, coordinated by Foodrise, warn that the United Kingdom is inadequately prepared for disruptions caused by climate change, geopolitical instability, cyber-attacks, and energy outages.

The letter highlights vulnerabilities in a food system that is heavily dependent on imports and just-in-time distribution. Key proposals include increasing domestic production of nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, and conducting audits of the nation’s reliance on major food corporations and imported agricultural inputs.

To bolster resilience, the experts suggest establishing a National Council of Food Security, Defence and Resilience to oversee cooperation between the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Ministry of Defence. They also advocate for the creation of local food resilience committees and the recognition of major food companies as emergency responders. This initiative follows a National Audit Office report criticizing the government’s lack of planning regarding food supply risks.