More than 150 experts have issued a warning to the British government, stating that the UK lacks a plan to feed its population during a crisis and is unprepared for potential future food shortages. The open letter, delivered to Andy Burnham, claims the government is “complacent about food as a national security matter.”
The experts, including academics, business leaders, and community groups, highlight the climate crisis, geopolitical shocks, cyber-attacks, and energy outages as key threats to food chain security. They argue that the current “just-in-time” delivery system is inadequate for modern challenges, noting the absence of national food storage and minimal stock along the supply chain.
The letter calls on ministers to implement several measures, including establishing local food resilience committees under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, auditing the UK’s reliance on large food companies and imports, realigning national food production with nutritional needs, and creating national, regional, local, and community food storage schemes. They also advocate for the decentralisation of the UK’s food supply.
This warning follows a recent rebuke from the National Audit Office, which accused ministers of not doing enough to help households and businesses prepare for emergencies. The government's own research reportedly indicates that Britons are less prepared for catastrophic events than citizens in several other European countries, and the UK is more reliant on food imports than some neighbours.
Environment Secretary Angela Eagle recently advised UK households to build up stores of food and water for a few days, in anticipation of a potentially wet and stormy winter due to the El Niño weather phenomenon. The letter, however, suggests the government is not adequately considering what such a store should entail, nor the affordability for lower-income households.
The Cabinet Office is set to launch a campaign encouraging households to stock up on tinned foods as part of preparations for future emergencies. The government’s Prepare website outlines steps, including assembling items like tinned meat, fruit, or vegetables that do not require cooking.