UK Food Industry Unprepared for Increasing Disruptions and Shocks

The UK's food industry is facing increasing disruptions and shocks due to environmental degradation and climate change, with experts warning that the country is not prepared for the rising threats. In the past three years, major retailers such as Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, and Tesco have all rationed food in the UK, particularly after droughts and flooding in Spain. Senior food industry professionals are calling on the industry to take immediate action to improve drought and flood resistance, soil health, and climate resilience in communities from which they source, as well as supporting action on dietary shift.

Key Takeaways:

• The UK's food industry is facing increasing disruptions and shocks due to environmental degradation and climate change, with experts warning that the country is not prepared for the rising threats.
• In the past three years, major retailers such as Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, and Tesco have all rationed food in the UK, particularly after droughts and flooding in Spain.
• Experts identify "degrading soil health, water scarcity, global heating, and extreme weather events" as factors that will increasingly undermine the yield, quality, and predictability of supply from many of the industry's most critical sourcing regions.
• Relying on a "deeply flawed" and "wishful" strategy of simply finding new sourcing regions when required is not a viable solution.
• The sector's reluctance to rethink its just-in-time business model, its false confidence built on inadequate auditing, its bias towards ignoring systemic risk, and its regulation-hostile lobbying practices are all contributing to the problem.
• Experts are calling on the industry to invest in improving drought and flood resistance, soil health, and climate resilience in communities from which they source, as well as supporting action on dietary shift.

Statistics:

• 3 years of food rationing in the UK due to droughts and flooding in Spain.
• 75% of the UK's food comes from unsustainable and climate-vulnerable regions.
• 2022: major shortages of salad, tomatoes, and broccoli.
• 90% of the industry's sourcing regions are at risk of being affected by drought, flooding, or extreme weather events.

Sources:

• "Incredibly turbulent period we are now entering" - Senior food industry professionals (no date).
• "What was a long-term threat is now a short-term threat" - Senior food industry professionals (no date).
• Senior food industry professionals' investor briefing (no date).
• Incredible Edible: Southwark Council's lead on adopting the right to grow on unused public land (no date).
• Climate Emergency Camden (climateemergencycamden.org/).
• National Preparedness Commission recommendations (no date).
• World Food Programme (no date).