UK Government releases food security report

UK – The UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has published the 2024 UK Food Security Report, examining the country’s ability to sustain its food supply amid economic, environmental, and geopolitical pressures.

The report highlights concerns over self-sufficiency, with the UK producing 62% of its food supply, according to 2023 data. 

While overall self-sufficiency has remained stable over the past decade, fresh vegetable production has dropped to its lowest level since records began in 1988, when it was at 53%.

Multiple factors have shaped the UK’s food supply chain over the past three years, including the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-Brexit trade adjustments. 

The war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East have added further strain, disrupting global supply networks. 

Climate change has also played a role, with extreme weather events affecting agricultural output and food availability.

Key Themes from the Report

The report identifies five major areas affecting food security. It states that while the UK’s food production has remained steady despite external disruptions, climate change, biodiversity loss, and water shortages pose long-term risks. 

Global food production has also been impacted by slow productivity growth, making food availability more uncertain. 

The number of undernourished people worldwide has risen from 541 million in 2017 to 733 million in 2023, driven by poverty, conflict, and inefficient food distribution.

The balance between domestic food production and imports has remained stable, with the UK sourcing 62% of its food in 2023, up slightly from 61% in 2021. 

However, extreme weather conditions are making local production more unpredictable. 

The UK continues to rely on imports for fruit, vegetables, and seafood, raising concerns about long-term sustainability as natural resources decline.

The resilience of the food supply chain remains a concern. 

Input costs for essential agricultural materials, such as fertiliser and energy, increased sharply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

UK farms spent approximately US$2.5 billion on fertiliser in 2022, up from US$1.9 billion in 2021, before costs dropped to US$1.8 billion in 2023. 

Energy prices have also fluctuated, with electricity and gas costs surging between 2014 and 2022.

Labour shortages continue to impact the food sector, affecting farm operations and food processing industries. 

While food imports declined sharply in 2021, they have since increased slightly, but investment in the industry remains lower than pre-2022 levels. 

Quarterly investment in the sector rose by 5.7% in 2023 compared to 2022 but was still 21% lower than in 2021.

Household Food Security

The report states that while most UK households are food-secure, the percentage has declined from 92% in 2020 to 90% in 2023. 

Inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages has contributed to this shift, peaking at 19.2% in March 2023, with overall inflation reaching 9.6% in October 2022.

Lower-income households struggle more to meet government dietary recommendations than higher-income groups. 

Food insecurity is also more common among households with disabled members, with 84% classified as food-secure in 2023 compared to 94% of households without disabled members.

Data from laboratory reports indicate that foodborne diseases have remained relatively stable from 2019 to 2023, except for fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Surveillance data on foodborne disease outbreaks supports these findings.

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