New report calls for radical transformation of food system, including producing more fruit and veg, to help farmers adapt to climate, preserve food security and tackle health crises
Supporting growers to adapt to climate change and increasing the UK’s production of fruit and veg are among the recommendations in a major new report into agri-food transformation.
The Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050 is the culmination of a major three-year project with funding from UKRI, involving 150 scientists and industry professionals, as well as 3,000 members of a community from across the food industry, farming, academia and civil society.
Its primary finding is that UK food needs radical transformation on a scale not seen since Second World War, with three main areas to transform and accompanying actions for government.
The three areas of transformation include:
· Supporting farmers to adapt to climate change, diversify business and grow more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains, reducing the need for imports.
· Expanding woodland cover from 14 to at least 20 per cent by 2050, restoring peatlands and planning land use regionally to balance food, nature and climate.
· Making nutritious, sustainable food the easy and affordable option, while reducing reliance on imported and high-emission foods.
“Achieving this transformation has the power to deliver a food system where everyone in the UK has access to healthy and sustainable food,” said Neil Ward, co-lead of the Agri-Food for Net Zero (AFN) Network+, which coordinated the project.
“Pressures from climate change, global shocks and poor diets mean significant change to our food system is inevitable over the next 50 years. 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,” added Ward.
The report highlights that the UK food system is a significant source of national greenhouse gas emissions and will become the largest source of emissions by the 2040s.
In addition, the UK is vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, the report found, highlighting that the country imports 50 per cent of vegetables and 85 per cent of fruit.
Among the 10 priority actions for government, the report authors said policymakers should:
· Place food security on a par with energy security, equally essential to national security
· Set targets for dietary change and livestock numbers
· Create a National Food System Transformation Committee reporting to the Prime Minister
“Every year of delay makes transformation harder and more costly. Change is coming to our food system, but how we shape it is our choice to make,” said AFN Network+ co-lead, Professor Tim Benton.
Professor Charlotte Deane, executive chair of UKRI’s engineering and physical sciences research council, said: “Agri-food remains one of the UK’s most stubborn sources of emissions.
“The AFN Network+ has brought together a powerful community of research leaders and stakeholders across UK agri-food, third sector organisations, policymakers and agri-food industry professionals to tackle this challenge and now delivered a clear roadmap for change.
“Our investment has resulted in a legacy of insights which will help shape future land use and food strategy, supporting the UK’s path to net zero.”
