Addressing the risks and solutions to being excessively dependent on other countries for food
The UK currently produces only around 60% of the food we eat. In a world of climate disruption, conflict and increasingly fragile global supply chains, we believe food security should be treated as national security. Feed Britain 2040 is a campaign to substantially increase the food Britain produces — supporting our farmers while investing in new technology, sustainable horticulture, productive land and resilient local food systems. We don't need to stop importing food. We need to make sure Britain has the capacity to feed itself when it matters.
Britain spends enormous amounts protecting energy security, defense and communications. Food security belongs in the same category.
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An NFU survey in 2025 found 92% saying it was important that Britain has a productive farming sector and 89% agreeing British farms should grow as much food as possible to support national food security.
NFU: National Farmers' Union
Six approaches to addressing food security
1. Produce more from the land we already farm
Incentivize farming technology investments to increase efficiency and yields.
Soil improvements
Renewable-powered heating and cooling
Food resilience to become a measurable government outcome
2. Major horticulture push
Support domestic investment in glasshouses, polytunnels, hydroponics, vertical farms where economically appropriate, orchards, soft fruit, salad crops, mushrooms and controlled-environment agriculture.
Push government to scale up – not create new policy.
3. Turn unused spaces into food-producing infrastructure
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Brownfield land
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Disused industrial sites
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Warehouse roofs
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Railway land
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Urban fringes
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Former retail sites
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Unused council land
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School grounds
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Hospital estates
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Ministry of Defense land where appropriate
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Commercial rooftops
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Abandoned greenhouses
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Fast-track planning permission for controlled-environment agriculture on suitable brownfield and industrial land.
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Developers proposing a greenhouse, hydroponic facility or vertical farm shouldn't have to fight the planning system for years.
4. Make producing food financially attractive
The creation of a food security investment allowance
Investment Possible incentive
Glasshouses Accelerated capital allowance
Vertical farms Investment tax credit
Irrigation/water storage Grants + tax allowance
Solar powering agriculture Enhanced allowance
Agricultural robotics R&D / capital incentive
Converting unused land Temporary business-rate relief
New orchards Establishment grants
Food storage/cold chains Infrastructure allowance
Urban farming Planning + rate incentives
5. Don't sacrifice nature to do it
Higher food production & environmental restoration:
Produce more food from less land.
Restore land that shouldn't be intensively farmed.
Climate resilience itself depends upon healthy soil, water availability and pollinators.
6. Make food security a national-security issue
Britain's food system faces multiple simultaneous risks.
Climate disruption. War. Energy shocks. Fertilizer prices. Export restrictions. Shipping disruption. Drought. Flooding. Crop disease. Cyberattack. Supply-chain concentration.
TOP DOWN AND BOTTOM UP
Defining the audiences
Top down
Bottom up
Defra
Treasury
Cabinet Office
Department for Business and Trade
Department for Energy Security
National Farmers' Union
supermarkets
food manufacturers
banks/institutional investors
universities/agricultural colleges
Everybody has a role.
Farmers increase yields.
Councils identify land.
Schools grow food.
Universities develop technology.
Supermarkets commit to British sourcing.
Investors finance greenhouses.
Consumers buy British seasonal food.
Government removes barriers.