Feeding Britain: Why Fruit and Veg Are Our National Achilles’ Heel

The UK is no better prepared to feed its population in times of crisis than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw has sounded the alarm over Britain’s reliance on imports, calling it “criminal” that the nation is less than 20% self-sufficient in fruit. “We’re living in probably some of the most volatile geopolitical times we’ve known,” he said. “If we are worried enough to be investing more in defence, we should be having the same conversation about food security.”

Declining Self-Sufficiency

According to DEFRA, the UK produced 65% of the food it consumed in 2023, a steep drop from the 78% peak in 1984. Fruit and vegetables are the country’s biggest weak spot, with only 15% of fruit and 53% of vegetables grown domestically. By contrast, the UK is relatively strong in producing meat, potatoes and cereals, but experts warn calories alone are not enough without access to nutrient-rich horticultural products.

Former UK food security ambassador Professor Tim Benton agrees urgent action is needed. “At some stage, the brown stuff will hit the fan and government will have to decide that it will need to invest in new ways to make sure this works,” he said.

Structural Challenges

British farming covers 70% of the nation’s land, but the vast majority is dedicated to livestock. Just 1% is used for fruit and vegetables, leaving the UK exposed to global supply chain shocks. Climate change, conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, and increasingly volatile trade policies are all testing these fragile supply lines.

Retail pressures also exacerbate the challenge. Contracts are often short-term, margins are tight, and energy costs push up production prices. This discourages long-term investment in crops such as apples, where growers face a 20-year horizon for returns.

Thanet Earth in Kent – the UK’s largest greenhouse complex – is one of the few major investments in domestic horticulture. It produces 300 million tomatoes, 33 million cucumbers and 20 million peppers annually, but its high-tech greenhouses cost tens of millions to build and run. “The assumption that we can just offshore food production is dangerous,” warned Thanet Earth’s technical director, Rob James.

A Call for Change

Experts believe dietary shifts are also part of the solution. If Britons ate according to government guidance, it would mean an additional 1.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables consumed each year – much of which could be grown domestically. Reducing meat and dairy consumption could also free up land for horticultural expansion.

Policy reforms will be crucial. Farmers have called for planning rules to be simplified, more government-backed loans and grants for innovation, and targeted investment in water security and infrastructure. While DEFRA has allocated £11.8bn to food production this parliament and expanded the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme, industry leaders argue it is not enough.

As Bradshaw bluntly put it: “Somebody, somewhere has to be willing to pay.”

The Road Ahead

Food security is increasingly being framed as national security. With climate change, global conflicts, and consumer demand for year-round produce, Britain faces tough decisions. Investing in horticulture, embracing innovation such as precision breeding, and rethinking diets could help to rebalance the system.

As Professor Benton concluded: “Looking ahead over the next 10 or 20 years, I think food security is only going to become more important as a principle of national security.”

Source: Sky News