Britain is losing its ability to produce its own food, farmers warn. It means the UK is increasingly reliant on imports from abroad while the world becomes increasingly unstable, with conflicts including the war in Ukraine and fears that Europe could be plunged into a wider war with Russia. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said: “We can’t rely on the rest of the world to feed us.”
The amount of food produced in the UK has fallen sharply over the past 30 years due to rising prices, disease outbreaks and extreme weather conditions. NFU data shows production of commodities such as wheat, canola, pork and fresh vegetables has fallen since 1995.
UK fresh vegetable production fell by 20.9% between 1995 and 2024, while domestic potato production fell by 37.2% over this period. This led to the NFU demanding food targets reverse their decline. And where domestic food production increased, such as fresh fruit, eggs and poultry, demand grew even faster.
Mr Bradshaw said: “Our report today paints a stark picture of falling production and growing dependence on imported food at a time when the world is becoming increasingly unstable.
“Successive governments have sleepwalked into making it harder to produce food domestically, leaving the UK increasingly reliant on imports produced to standards that would be illegal here. The egg scare in recent weeks is a tragic reminder of what happens when we get it wrong.”
In August, UK authorities said about 500 people had fallen ill from salmonella linked to imported eggs.
Mr Bradshaw warned food security was also under threat as farmers faced a triple whammy of drought, disease and rising costs.
Britain has experienced its hottest summer on record this year, with much of the country plunged into drought due to little rainfall and high temperatures.
Mr Bradshaw added: “At the same time, political uncertainty, chronic underinvestment and a restrictive planning system are undermining Britain’s ability to produce its own food. This is necessary and can be reversed.”
The Labor government launched an attack on farming when it threatened an inheritance tax raid on the sector, causing thousands to march in Whitehall in protest.
Keir Starmer’s government has been forced to do a 180-degree U-turn, putting hundreds of family farms across the country at risk.
The NFU also said UK agriculture receives less government support than farmers in the EU, US, Canada and New Zealand.
Mr Bradshaw added: “Despite these pressures, Britain’s farmers continue to deliver jobs, growth and food, while playing a critical role in supporting rural communities, as their efforts to fight the fires this summer showed. With the right support, they can do even more. Clearly defined food production targets and a set of core standards are a start. A planning system that delivers growth and a tax system that recognizes the need for investment are critical.”