UK food security report warns of inflation and climate risks

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published the UK Food Security Report 2024, outlining the state of food security in the UK.

The report highlights significant challenges posed by climate change, inflation, and geopolitical instability, while also recognising areas of resilience within the UK’s food systems.

The report notes that global food production has continued to grow despite numerous challenges.

“Food production has continued to grow and keep up with population growth. This means there is enough food in the world in terms of volume and dietary energy supply to meet global population needs,” the report states.

However, concerns over weak productivity growth and increased global competition for natural resources such as land and water remain significant risks to future production.

Household Food Security in Decline

One of the most pressing findings is the decline in household food security across the UK.

The report observes: “The proportion of food secure households declined from 92% in the financial year ending (FYE) 2020 to 90% in FYE 2023, coinciding with increased financial pressures to household budgets from both high general inflation and high food inflation.”

This trend disproportionately affects lower-income groups, who are less likely to meet dietary recommendations than those with higher incomes.

The report warns of long-term risks posed by the ongoing decline in the UK’s natural capital, which underpins domestic food production.

“Long term decline in the UK’s natural capital is a pressing risk to UK food production. Both productivity and sustainability of food production rely on ecosystem services provided by biodiversity, healthy soil and clean water,” the report highlights.

While recent efforts have slowed the rate of decline, these ecosystems remain under pressure from intensive farming practices and climate change.

Consumer Confidence in Food Safety

Despite these challenges, public trust in food safety remains high.

“Consumers’ trust in the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to ensure that food is safe to eat remains high, at over 80%,” the report confirms.

The backlog of inspections for food businesses, exacerbated by the pandemic, has not significantly affected compliance rates, with most businesses maintaining high hygiene standards.

Inflation continues to strain household budgets, particularly in relation to food prices.

“Over the last three years, inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages peaked in March 2023 at 19.2%, while overall inflation peaked in October 2022 at 9.6%,” the report notes.

Although inflation rates have started to return to pre-pandemic levels, food prices remain above 2020 levels, limiting access to affordable, nutritious diets for many.