Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the findings in the UK Food Security Report, published on 11 December 2024 on resilience to exogenous shocks in the food system.

The UK has a high degree of food security, but the 2024 UK Food Security Report shows that food security cannot be taken for granted. Strengthening food security by supporting our farmers and food producers is a top priority for this Government.

While climate and geopolitical volatility have weakened aspects of food supply stability since 2021, food availability or the quantity of food available to the UK has been maintained thanks to continued resilience in food production and the global trading system.

Food production faces pressing risks from climate change and nature loss over the longer term. Defra is taking action to reduce this impact and support the continued production and supply of food for UK citizens. For example, the third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3), sets out a range of measures to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change across the agri-food chain.

Work is also underway to develop an ambitious food strategy. The strategy will set the food system up for long-term success and will deliver wide ranging improvements; through building resilience in the face of climate shocks and geopolitical changes, while protecting the supply chain which operates so effectively to feed the nation.