A week after the UK government warned the population to stockpile food to face the threat of natural catastrophes the country’s farmers have warned climate change is putting the food supply under extreme threat.

The National Farmers ’Union (NFU) has warned the UK’s self-sufficiency in 10 out of 11 everyday foods, such as wheat, vegetables, beef, poultry meat and eggs have fallen in the last 30 years.

At the same time, the country’s reliance on imported food continues to grow, with agri-food import volumes up 70% over the period while export volumes have stalled. To turn the tide and secure a future for British food production, the NFU is calling on government to set ambitious targets for homegrown food.

With 93% of British households agreeing that it’s important to maintain or increase UK food self-sufficiency, the public’s message is clear. On Back British Farming Day – the day the country celebrates the nation’s food producers – the NFU is offering government a clear alternative and a route away from a growing food security crisis in its Ready to Grow report.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “Our report paints a stark picture of falling production and an increasing reliance on imported food while at the same time the world is becoming more unstable. We can’t rely on the rest of the world to feed us.

“Successive governments have sleepwalked into making it harder to produce food at home, leaving Britain increasingly reliant on imports produced to standards that would be illegal here. The food scare in eggs in recent weeks is a tragic reminder of what happens when we get this wrong.

“Farmers are battling devastating drought, disease outbreaks and soaring costs. At the same time, policy uncertainty, chronic underinvestment and a restrictive planning system are eroding Britain’s ability to produce its own food. This must and can be reversed.”

The report underlines the need for action to ensure farmers can meet the public’s demand, as it shows that much of Britain’s food is being produced at a loss⁴:

• 65% of wheat and barley grown on cereal farms came from farm businesses operating at loss.
• On lowland livestock farms, only 26% of some sheep products came from profitable farm groups.

This comes at a time when the worst drought in 50 years is set to cost wheat growers £370 million⁵, while the UK’s largest-ever bluetongue outbreak and soaring fuel, fertiliser and energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran are pushing farm finances to breaking point.

Despite this, agriculture continues to deliver for the economy. Gross value added (GVA) has risen by 57% in England and 55% in Wales⁶, helping power the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, food and drink, worth £162.3 billion and supporting 4.1 million jobs. Farm businesses are ready to meet growing consumer demand, boost self-sufficiency and drive further growth, but considerable barriers are holding them back.

Bradshaw added: “UK agriculture also receives less government support than farmers in the EU, US, Canada and New Zealand, and less than half the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) average.

“Despite these pressures, British farmers continue to deliver jobs, growth and food, while playing a crucial role in supporting rural communities, as their firefighting efforts this summer have shown. With the right backing, they can do even more. Clearly defined targets for food production and a set of core standards are the start. A planning system that enables growth and a tax system that recognises the need to invest are crucial.

“We want to work with Defra’s Farming and Food Partnership Board to build a competitive sector, one that realises its ambitions and unlocks growth in every part of the country. This matters today on Back British Farming Day, and it matters for tomorrow and the 29 million households needing affordable, safe food.”