Budget is chance to strengthen nation’s food security, says NFU

13 October 2026

| 4 minute read

Public Accounts Committee sitting in a meeting room

Photograph: Parliament TV

As the Public Accounts Committee puts the resilience of the UK’s food supply under parliamentary scrutiny, the NFU urges the Chancellor to recognise the risks facing homegrown food production and use the upcoming Budget to strengthen the nation’s food security.

The PAC (Public Accounts Committee) is holding two evidence sessions on Monday 12 and Thursday 14 October to explore how prepared the UK is for a disruption to its food supply.

Find out more: GOV.UK | 12 October 2026 - Resilience of the UK's food supply to disruptions - Oral evidence

The committee’s inquiry will examine the potential impact of serious disruption to our food supply chains and the country’s level of preparedness, bringing together representatives from farming, food manufacturing and retail.

NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins said: “We welcome the Public Accounts Committee’s focus on UK food resilience. I hope the inquiry reinforces the need to take meaningful action in the Budget to strengthen the nation’s food security.”

Tom Bradshaw and John Healey montage

Our 5 key asks set out in a letter to the Chancellor

“The Budget in a few weeks’ time gives the Chancellor an opportunity to act, helping British farmers build resilience and strengthen the nation’s food security.”

NFU Deputy President Paul Tompkins

Welcome and timely

The NFU said the inquiry was both welcome and timely. Farmers and growers are contending with a myriad of issues, from global conflicts driving up production costs to climate change and disease which are eating into margins. Farm businesses are under severe pressure, damaging both confidence and investment.

Paul continued: “This government has repeatedly said that food security is fundamental to our national security, and a secure supply of homegrown food depends on resilient farm businesses.

“Farmers are always looking to grow their businesses and deliver more for the country. Yet global volatility, escalating costs, extreme weather and disease are pushing businesses to the brink and weakening our capacity to produce food at home.

“These pressures are eroding business confidence and stalling investment. For some farms, the immediate question is whether they can afford to produce food next year. For others, it is whether they can invest in the infrastructure, technology and long-term productivity needed to withstand future shocks.

“The PAC is right to ask questions about food resilience. The Budget in a few weeks’ time gives the Chancellor an opportunity to act, helping British farmers build resilience and strengthen the nation’s food security.”

Our asks of government

The NFU is calling on the Chancellor to put forward a Budget that reduces the cost of producing food, restores farm business confidence and strengthens Britain’s food security.

These measures are intended to help farm businesses move out of ‘survival mode’, unlock investment and build greater resilience into domestic food production.

To read our asks in full, visit: 5 key Autumn Budget asks – NFU writes to the Chancellor

More on our work on the Budget

This page was first published on 13 October 2026.

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