UK self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables is at a record low

The new government has been urged to help ensure self-sufficiency does not fall further as new figures show levels of some foods are at their lowest since records began.

The importance of increasing levels of self-sufficiency was highlighted today (August 14), when the national larder will be empty if the public eats only UK food from January 1.

According to Defra figures by 2023, the UK will be 62% self-sufficient in food. While this reflects similar levels to the past decade, some sectors have seen recent declines.

For example, UK self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables is the lowest since records began in 1988 at 53%.

The NFU said the new Labor government must recognize the vulnerability of global food supply chains and the importance of a stable food supply in the UK.

This year, farmers experienced the wettest winter and spring on record, putting pressure on food production.

It also contributed to a decline in farm business confidence, leading to a dramatic reduction in the area planted to crops for the 2024 harvest.

At the same time, record-breaking global temperatures have affected the world's major exporting countries.

Imports account for 84% of fresh tomatoes sold in the UK, yet tomato imports from Spain and Morocco fell by 17% compared to the five-year average in February 2023.

Over the same period, imports of lettuce varieties fell by more than 36%, contributing to shortages on shop shelves as UK production also fell.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Blistering temperatures have caused problems for crops across Europe, with many farms in the UK spending the first few months of this year underwater.

"At the same time, our farmers are experiencing significant reductions in direct farm support payments and unsustainably high production costs due to the war in Ukraine.

“All these chips away at business confidence and the ability of farmers to do what they do best – produce high-quality, nutritious food for the country.

"And with almost a fifth of UK households reporting experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity in January 2023, we cannot allow this trend to continue."

The NFU has called for a range of measures, including a multi-year agricultural budget for the government and a statutory commitment to ensure the UK's self-sufficiency does not fall below its current level.

What else is the NFU calling for?

The union highlighted several ways the new government could help ensure self-sufficiency does not decline in the future:

• The multi-year agriculture budget has been increased for the duration of this Parliament, as was the case in the previous Parliament.

• Ensure that all new policies and regulations that affect agriculture and horticulture businesses undergo a food security impact assessment.

• Introduce a statutory commitment to ensure the UK's self-sufficiency does not fall below its current level.

• Ensure that food is imported to the standards that British farmers have to meet by introducing a system of core standards for animal welfare and environmental impact.

• A seamless transition to new environmental schemes open to all farmers and growers

• Deliver on the manifesto commitment to introduce a target for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to high environmental standards.

• Update the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to include a weighted rationale for food production.

• Supporting growth in the UK horticulture sector, developing policies on access to labour, crop protection, water, planning, and affordable and sustainable energy supply.