The National Farmers’ Union has urged the government to formally recognise food security as part of the UK’s national security strategy, calling it a critical pillar of resilience in an increasingly unstable world.

The union’s intervention comes ahead of the release of the updated national security strategy, expected to be published in tandem with the NATO summit.

The government’s own 2024 manifesto stated that “food security is national security”, but the NFU wants those words backed by concrete policy.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “We are facing into an increasingly volatile world. The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report forecasts heightened global instability over the next decade, with conflict and economic shocks on the rise and extreme weather becoming the norm.

“It’s therefore vital that the resilience of our food system is considered a strategic priority.

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“The nation was reminded all too recently of the consequences of fragile food supply chains, with supermarket shelves bare and fresh produce rationed because of high production costs here and bad harvests abroad.”

Bradshaw pointed to recent examples of supermarket shortages and fresh produce rationing, arguing these disruptions showed how quickly global shocks or poor harvests can leave UK supply chains exposed. In spring 2023 some UK supermarket retailers limited the amount of fresh produce that shoppers could buy, due to poor weather in southern Europe. Products such as lettuce and cucumbers were in short supply.

The NFU’s call is backed by warnings in a new report from the National Preparedness Commission, which highlights gaps in civil food resilience and warns of the country’s vulnerability to international supply shocks and climate-related challenges.

“If ministers truly believe their own words and take the experts seriously, they’ll seize this moment to put food security at the heart of our national security strategy,” Bradshaw added.

“It’s not just an opportunity, it’s a necessity to safeguard the future of food for the nation.”

The government is expected to publish the updated security strategy in the coming days, setting out how the UK intends to protect itself amid global conflict, economic uncertainty, and worsening extreme weather events.