The 2024 UK Food Security Report, published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), delivers a detailed analysis of the nation's food sources, self-sufficiency, and the challenges posed by extreme weather.
Here are some of the key findings:
Food Sources: A Growing Reliance on Domestic Production
In 2023, the UK sourced 58% of its food domestically, up from a low of 49% in 2016. The remainder came from the European Union (24%) and other regions, including 7% from America, 4% each from Africa and Asia/Australia, and 3% from the rest of Europe.
While domestic production has increased in recent years, it remains below the peak levels of the late 1980s and early 1990s, when it reached 67% in 1989. The upward trend reflects a concerted effort to bolster food security amid global supply chain uncertainties.
Self-Sufficiency: Stability but Room for Growth
The UK produced 75% of the foods it can grow domestically in 2023, a slight increase from 74% in 2021. This measure of self-sufficiency has remained relatively stable over the past two decades but is a far cry from the 95% recorded in 1984.
For all foods consumed, 62% were homegrown in 2023, up from 61% in 2021, yet still significantly lower than the modern-day peak of 78% in 1984.
Imports: EU Dominance Continues, but Shifts Persist
The European Union remains the UK's leading source of food imports, accounting for 24% in 2023. This is an increase from 22% in 2021 but still below pre-Brexit levels of around 30% in the mid-2010s. The decline has been partly offset by increased domestic production.
Homegrown Foods: A Mixed Picture
Among indigenous foods, the UK produced high proportions of cereals (93%), eggs (87%), beef (85%), and poultry (82%). Notably, the UK produced more milk than it consumed. However, fresh produce tells a different story, with only 53% of vegetables and 16% of fruit sourced domestically.
Defra attributes the disparity to "UK climate suitability, seasonality, and consumer and producer choices."
Fruit and Vegetables: A Tale of Two Trends
Domestic production of fresh fruit, while still low, has doubled from 8% in 2003 to 16% in 2023. By contrast, the proportion of homegrown fresh vegetables has declined from 63% in 2003 to 53% in 2023. Among indigenous crops, 66% of strawberries and 96% of root vegetables like carrots and swedes were produced locally in 2023, but figures for tomatoes (15%), lettuce (44%), and broccoli (49%) lag significantly.
Weather’s Toll on Domestic Production
Extreme weather conditions between 2021 and 2023 led to a 13% drop in vegetable production, falling to 2.2 million tonnes. A wet spring delayed planting, followed by a hot, dry summer that hampered germination for those without irrigation. Later, prolonged wet conditions impacted harvests and increased disease prevalence.
Fruit production also suffered, falling by 12% year-on-year from 2022 to 2023, despite a higher volume overall than in 2021. Culinary apple yields hit a decade-low of 59 thousand tonnes due to drought stress in 2022 and poor pollination caused by cold winds in May 2023.
The report underscores the need for resilience in UK food production, highlighting both progress and vulnerabilities. As weather volatility increases, strengthening domestic agriculture will be vital for securing the nation's food supply.
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