Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what funding has been allocated through UK Research and Innovation for research into food resilience, food system shocks and potential food security vulnerabilities.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is developing a Food, Animal and Plant Health programme to generate the knowledge and innovations needed for a resilient, healthy and sustainable food system. A priority is strengthening UK resilience to shocks and chronic risks (e.g. climate change, extreme weather, geopolitical instability, and emerging pests and diseases).

Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, UKRI invested approximately £155m in food resilience-related research and initiatives, alongside £85m for research at institutes in related areas like sustainable agriculture, alternative proteins, advanced food production, and plant and animal health. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs works closely with UKRI, including on food system resilience.