The UK is vulnerable to food price shocks because it imports much of its fruit and vegetables from countries facing severe climate pressure, according to a Food Foundation report published on Wednesday. About 40% of the country’s food is imported, including 80% of its fruit and 47% of its vegetables.
The warning follows a year in which much of Britain experienced five record heatwaves, drought and wildfires. Hot, dry conditions damaged crops and reduced domestic yields, adding to concerns about the resilience of food supplies.
What the report found
The UK has one of the lowest food self-sufficiency ratios among large western European countries and relies more heavily on imported fruit than France, Germany or Spain. The country generally produces enough grains, meat, milk and eggs to cover its needs, but its supply of fresh produce is more exposed to overseas conditions.
Eighteen of the 20 countries that supply the UK with healthy staple foods were rated moderately to severely vulnerable to climate breakdown in the report. The Food Foundation says this creates a mismatch between domestic production and the foods people are encouraged to eat.
Which foods could be grown in the UK
Five of the UK’s nine most-purchased fruits can be grown domestically: apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and pears. However, the UK produces less than 40% of domestic consumption for four of those fruits.
Carrots are the main highly self-sufficient vegetable, with domestic production meeting 94% of consumption. The report says the UK could grow more of popular vegetables including tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, cucumbers, onions, broccoli and green beans; for those vegetables, only about half are produced domestically.
Why growers say expansion is difficult
Horticulture businesses, especially those using glasshouses, face rising energy costs that are higher than in neighbouring European countries. Some growers have cut production, while also dealing with labour shortages, poor weather and changes to post-Brexit subsidies.
Ali Capper, chair of the British Apples and Pears trade body, said growers want greater certainty over seasonal workers, water for food, planning rules, energy prices, long-term agreements and profitable returns. Food producers are asking the government to address these issues in its forthcoming horticulture sector growth plan.
What climate change could mean for supplies
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has forecast that, without action to improve resilience, higher temperatures will reduce yields, increase heat stress in plants and lower the quality of fruit, vegetables and other crops. The risks are especially pronounced across the Mediterranean, north Africa, and South and Central America.
The Food Foundation is calling for government investment to help British farmers adapt and increase domestic production. Its executive director, Anna Taylor, said climate impacts could drive up prices and put nutritious food further out of reach for many people.
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