UK has not done enough to prepare for shocks to food supplies, says watchdog
Summary
The UK government has not done enough to prepare the country's food supply for potential shocks like climate change, disease, or cyber-attacks, says the National Audit Office (NAO). The NAO urges the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) to improve cooperation with communities and businesses to make the food system stronger and better ready for emergencies.Key Facts
- The UK's food supply faces risks from climate change, disease, and cyber-attacks.
- Over one-third of the UK's food is imported, mostly through four key ports (Dover, Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway).
- Defra has taken some steps but hasn’t done enough to help citizens and businesses prepare for food supply emergencies.
- The food supply chain held up during Covid-19 and after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but future shocks may be harder to handle without more government support.
- Food businesses say Defra’s communication has decreased since the pandemic, limiting their input on emergency plans.
- Food is considered critical national infrastructure, but cold storage and food transport hubs are not yet included in this list.
- The last big national test of Defra’s emergency plans was in 2023, but most supply chain businesses were not involved.
- Local groups that manage emergencies say they don’t have clear guidance from the government on their roles during a food supply disruption.
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