The UK food sector needs radical transformation on a scale not seen since the Second World War, new research has found.
The report, The Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050, has said that if there is no action the UK will lurch from crisis to crisis, including from food price shocks, climate disasters and weakening economic productivity.
Acting now would allow the UK to “decide its own future” and must include three core transformations including more resilient farming, smarter land use and healthier diets.
The report has called on the government to lead with “decisive and coordinated action” and proposes 10 key recommendations and a timeline to 2050.
“Pressures from climate change, global shocks and poor diets mean significant change to our food system is inevitable over the next 50 years,” said Neil Ward, co-lead of the Agri-Food for Net Zero Network+, which coordinated the report, and a professor at the University of East Anglia. “However, if we act now, we still have time to shape our future, and positively impact national security, national health, economic growth and climate change.
“Our window to act is narrow though – if we do not, change will be forced on us by crisis.”
Core transformations
The transformations include more resilient farming, which would involve supporting farmers to adapt to climate change, diversify business and grow more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains and reduce the need for imports.
It also calls on the need for more integrated land use such as through the expansion of woodland cover to at least 20% of the UK by 2050, the restoration of peatlands and planning land use regionally to balance food, nature and climate.
The report has said nutritious, sustainable food should be the easy and affordable option, while reducing reliance on imported and high-emission foods.
“Through these three transformations we can reduce pressure on the NHS and help people lead healthier and more economically active lives,” said Ward. “Nature will flourish, emissions will fall and farming will be more resilient and secure for future generations.”
Priority actions for government
The authors have set out 10 priority actions for government including placing food security on a par with energy or national security, setting targets for dietary change and livestock numbers, creating a National Food System Transformation Committee and further reforming agricultural subsidies.
“Every year of delay makes transformation harder and more costly,” said co-lead of the AFN Network+, Tim Benton. “We call on all parties, public institutions, industry and civil society to unite to drive forwards the transformations highlighted in this Roadmap.
“Change is coming to our food system, but how we shape it is our choice to make.”
The report had input from 150 scientists and industry professionals from across research institutes, farming, charities and the food industry and is the culmination of three years of work.
The AFN Network+ is a project funded by UK Research & Innovation, with 3,000 members and led by a group of 11 universities and research institutions.
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