The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is pushing for the upcoming Food Summit to become an annual event, to mark a turning point in how the safe and affordable supply of home-grown food is prioritised by the government. The call comes from the NFU president, Minette Batters, who asserts that the past year and a half has been a stark reminder of how vulnerable the nation’s food security is. Batters urges the summit to deliver actions, not just words.
To begin with, Batters asks for a serious commitment from the government to maintain Britain’s food production self-sufficiency at 60%, with a duty to report on domestic food production and to utilize powers under the Agriculture Act to make the supply chain fairer. These provisions, according to Batters, are key to ensuring a secure domestic supply of food. The Food Summit, scheduled to take place on May 16th, comes after commitments made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to the UK food industry at the end of last year.
In November 2022, Batters met with the Prime Minister to discuss the significant issues facing British food and farming and the importance of a government that prioritizes food and energy security. The meeting came after the NFU highlighted concerns that many farm businesses were reducing production to limit losses from soaring inflation and energy bills, posing risks to Britain’s home-grown food supply. Batters emphasizes the importance of the Prime Minister upholding his commitments, particularly the establishment of a food security target and a statutory duty to monitor domestic food production. Moreover, the Prime Minister’s commitment to holding a UK-wide annual food security summit at Number 10 must also be realized.
The Summit will be a platform to discuss challenges facing domestic food production, including the impact of shortages on the food supply chain. The event aims to be the starting point for a secure and reliable continuation of food supply in Britain.
