In March this year, the government announced plans to publish a new national security strategy before the NATO summit. This is in addition to the strategic defence review.
This week will see the heads of state and government from 32 nations come together for the 24 – 25 June NATO summit in The Hague.
Expected to align with this meeting, the government's national security strategy will explain how the government intends to keep the UK safe at a time of rising global instability, and food should be included in it.
“If ministers truly believe their own words and take the experts seriously, they’ll seize this moment to put food security at the heart of our national security strategy.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
UK's food system in precarious state
“We are facing into an increasingly volatile world,” said NFU President Tom Bradshaw, as he urged ministers to ensure food security is included in the strategy.
The government’s own manifesto states that ‘food security is national security’, a message ministers have echoed time and again. This aligns with the view of former MI5 Director General, Baroness Manningham-Buller, who said food production is a key pillar of the UK’s critical infrastructure
Despite this, a recent report by the National Preparedness Commission – a committee made up of crises experts – highlights the precarious state of the UK's food system, warning of its vulnerability to shocks and the need for urgent action to bolster domestic food resilience.
A necessity
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report forecasts heightened global instability over the next decade, with conflict and economic shocks on the rise and extreme weather becoming the norm.
“It’s therefore vital that the resilience of our food system is considered a strategic priority,” said NFU President Tom Bradshaw.
He added: “The nation was reminded all too recently of the consequences of fragile food supply chains, with supermarket shelves bare and fresh produce rationed because of high production costs here and bad harvests abroad.
“If ministers truly believe their own words and take the experts seriously, they’ll seize this moment to put food security at the heart of our national security strategy. It’s not just an opportunity – it’s a necessity to safeguard the future of food for the nation.”
