Food Security Must Be a Central Pillar of UK's National Security Strategy

Strategic Insights -

The UK government is set to publish its national security strategy tomorrow, amid rising global instability. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) is calling for food security to be a central pillar of the strategy, echoing comments from former MI5 director general Baroness Manningham-Buller, who has described food production as a vital component of the UK's critical infrastructure. A recent report from the National Preparedness Commission highlights the vulnerability of the nation's food system and warns of the need for urgent measures to strengthen domestic food resilience.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NFU is urging ministers to prioritize food security in the national security strategy, highlighting its critical importance to the nation's future.
  • The government's own manifesto declares that "food security is national security", a message reinforced by ministers.
  • Former MI5 director general Baroness Manningham-Buller has emphasized the vital role of food production in the UK's critical infrastructure.
  • A recent report from the National Preparedness Commission warns of the nation's food system vulnerability and the need for urgent measures to strengthen domestic food resilience.
  • The NFU president Tom Bradshaw has stated that the recent experience of empty supermarket shelves and rationing of fresh produce highlights the fragility of supply chains.
  • The NFU is calling for the government to put food security at the heart of the national security strategy, arguing that it is an absolute necessity to safeguard the future of food for the whole nation.
  • The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report forecasts heightened global instability over the next decade, with conflict and economic shocks becoming more frequent and extreme weather events now the norm.

Statistics:

  • The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report forecasts heightened global instability over the next decade, with conflict and economic shocks becoming more frequent.
  • Extreme weather events are now the norm, posing significant risks to food production and global food system resilience.
  • The NFU has highlighted the urgent need for measures to strengthen domestic food resilience, in light of the nation's food system vulnerability.
  • The recent report from the National Preparedness Commission has warned of the need for urgent measures to strengthen domestic food resilience, amidst rising global instability.

Sources:

  • World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report (no date mentioned in the original text)
  • NFU (no date mentioned in the original text)
  • Baroness Manningham-Buller (no specific quote or date mentioned in the original text)