UK's heavy reliance on climate-vulnerable countries for fruit and vegetables raises food security concerns
A new report highlights the UK's dependence on imported fruit and vegetables from countries highly vulnerable to climate change, raising concerns about food security and price stability. The Food Foundation calls for increased investment in domestic production to mitigate risks.
The UK's food supply chain faces growing vulnerabilities due to its heavy reliance on imports of fruit and vegetables from countries already struggling with climate-related challenges. A report from the Food Foundation warns that this dependence could expose the UK to food price shocks as climate change intensifies in key supplier nations.
## Climate risks in key supplier countries
The report identifies a significant mismatch between the UK's dietary needs and its domestic food production. Eighteen of the top 20 countries supplying the UK with healthy staple foods are classified as moderately to severely vulnerable to climate breakdown. These countries are expected to face lower crop yields, heat stress for plants, and reduced food quality due to rising temperatures, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
## Domestic production gaps
While the UK produces sufficient grains, meat, milk, and eggs to meet its needs, it imports about 40% of its total food, including 80% of its fruit and 47% of its vegetables. This makes the UK more dependent on imports than many other large western European countries. The report highlights that five of the UK's nine most-purchased fruits-apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and pears-can be grown domestically, but the UK grows less than 40% of its domestic consumption for four of these fruits.
For vegetables, only carrots reach a high level of self-sufficiency at 94%. Other popular vegetables, such as tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers, cucumbers, onions, broccoli, and green beans, are only about 50% domestically produced.
## Calls for government action
The Food Foundation urges the government to invest more in helping British farmers adapt to climate change to boost domestic production. Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, warns that climate breakdown could drive up food prices, making nutritious foods less affordable for many. She emphasizes the need for immediate government action to prevent this scenario.
Horticulture businesses, particularly those relying on glasshouses, have been struggling with rising energy costs, which are higher than in neighboring European countries. This has forced some to cut production. Ali Capper, who runs an apple and hops farm in Worcestershire and chairs the British Apples and Pears trade body, highlights the need for government policies that provide certainty on seasonal workers, water access, planning regulations, and energy costs. Growers also seek long-term agreements and profitable returns to expand production.
Food producers are calling on the government to address these concerns in its forthcoming horticulture sector growth plan.
