UK food supply faces growing disruption risks

Farmers and food businesses must be more closely involved in government planning for potentially severe disruptions to UK food supplies, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.

The public spending watchdog said risks including extreme weather, cyber-attacks, energy disruption and disease outbreaks were becoming more likely and potentially more severe.

See also: UK food self-sufficiency falls as import costs rise

While supply chains weathered recent shocks including Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine, Defra, the report highlights, is less confident businesses will withstand future disruption without greater support.

Self-sufficiency

The UK’s food self-sufficiency ratio stood at about 60% in 2025, measured by the value of domestically produced food against consumption.

However, domestic production itself relies on imported inputs including fertiliser and animal feed, says the report.

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) said about 50% of UK feed demand and 70% of fertiliser demand was met through imports.

Ed Barker, AIC head of policy and external affairs, said: “Government must take a more joined-up approach across departments, while maintaining close co-ordination with the devolved administrations.”

He also called for improved data and intelligence sharing with the EU as the government develops a closer relationship with the bloc

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said farmers were already experiencing shocks identified by the report, with many facing a cashflow crisis driven by drought, fertiliser, fuel and energy costs, and bluetongue disease.

“Strengthening the resilience of the food supply chain starts with strengthening the resilience of the businesses that produce our food, because farmers can no longer afford to bear the costs of these risks alone,” he said.

The NFU is calling for a Keep Britain Growing Loan to provide working capital and, longer term, statutory targets for domestic food production.

Critical infrastructure

Food is one of the UK’s 13 Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors, but the NAO found government has yet to determine which individual food assets should be included in its CNI Knowledge Base.

It recommended Defra accelerate this work and refresh engagement with businesses.

Industry had limited involvement in developing its emergency response “playbook”, while food businesses have largely been absent from exercises testing preparedness.

The NAO also called for plans to be tested more regularly with industry and local government, and for Defra to review whether it has sufficient emergency powers.

Defra said it welcomed the report and would respond fully to its recommendations in due course.

A spokesman said: “The NAO’s report shows risks to food supplies are becoming more complex, which is exactly why we are working with farmers and the food and drink industry to strengthen the UK’s food security and resilience.”

The audit did not examine the long-term resilience of domestic food production, but highlighted concerns including farm profitability and climate change.

The NAO confirmed domestic production will be the subject of future work.