With the UK’s food security in a “precarious state”, the Government’s Spending Review must enable investment in the sector, says the National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has urged Government to invest in the UK’s food security, which, it says, “this Government has repeatedly stated is critical to national security”, in its upcoming Spending Review.
Following the National Preparedness Commission’s warning that food security in the UK is in a “precarious state”, and with geopolitical tensions high, a rapidly changing trading environment, and climate change disrupting food supply chains across the world, the union argues that “investment in homegrown food production today can help avoid food insecurity tomorrow”.
Areas for investment
Listing five key areas that will help the food and farming sector to grow, the NFU is asking for Treasury support in the Spending Review:
- A UK-wide annual agriculture budget of £5.6 billion. A long-term policy approach will enable a “resilient, growing, and sustainable agricultural sector that can plan to invest in the future”. This will help it try to meet Government targets and commitments across nature, climate, productivity, and food security.
- A cross-Government, fully funded biosecurity plan to prevent disease outbreaks and, when necessary, to tackle the latest threats. Without this, says the NFU, we remain at risk of another major disease outbreak that threatens entire sectors, alongside new risks exacerbated by climate change and increased exposure through inadequate border control and import checks.
- An end-to-end R&D budget for agri-tech to drive productivity and to produce food in a “smarter, more sustainable way”. Without this, British farmers and institutions could fall behind international competitors.
- A sufficient budget to invest in flooding management. The NFU highlights that with flooding events becoming ever more frequent, we need a “future-proofed investment plan” to ensure the maintenance and expansion of our flooding defences in order to keep communities safe.
- Review the NFU’s clawback proposal for Inheritance Tax changes: “One thing the Chancellor must do to restore confidence and enable investment in the farming sector is to do the right thing on the family farm tax. Without this, unaffordable bills could tear family farm businesses apart and dry up any possible investment or growth opportunities.”
“We know the Treasury is having to make difficult decisions, but this is not money for money’s sake.”
Tom Bradshaw, NFU president
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The UK’s food and drink sector is an economic powerhouse. It’s the country’s biggest manufacturing sector, contributing £148 billion to the national economy and supporting more than four million jobs. Farm businesses are its foundation.
“Make no mistake, global instability and a more unpredictable climate is making homegrown food production harder, while also putting pressure on food supply chains around the world.
“We simply must invest in food production to safeguard the future of our food. Failure to do this will lead to reduced food production at home, forcing a reliance on imports which, as an island nation amidst serious global volatility, is not a smart move.
“We know the Treasury is having to make difficult decisions, but this is not money for money’s sake. Investment in homegrown food production now will help secure UK food security in the future. It will secure jobs and the economic contribution of the sector, as well as kickstart rural economic growth by breaking down barriers to opportunity for rural communities.
“The Government has been talking about a new deal for farmers. A Spending Review that supports a growing, resilient, sustainable, biosecure and technologically advanced farming sector is the lynchpin to that new deal.”
NFU Cymru president Aled Jones added: “We’ve heard a lot of strong words from Government about the importance of food security. Now, we need to see strong action to match.
“Investment in farming isn’t just about helping farmers; it’s about building national resilience. Wales, like the rest of the UK, is feeling the pressure of climate change, supply chain shocks and market volatility, and farmers across the UK are ready to be part of the solution, producing climate-friendly food while supporting our economy and environment.
“The Spending Review is a moment for the Treasury to show it values domestic food production as a cornerstone of our national interest. Backing farmers means backing a stable, secure, and sustainable future for everyone.”
