Professor Tim Lang of City St George’s University of London has raised alarms about the UK's food security, emphasizing that the country is currently ill-prepared for climate shocks or potential wars that could disrupt food supplies. He highlights that the UK only produces 54% of the food it needs to sustain its population, leaving it vulnerable in times of crisis. Unlike other wealthy nations like the US, France, and Australia, which are food self-sufficient, the UK relies heavily on imports, making it especially susceptible to external shocks.

Lang's comments come in light of the findings from the first UK Food Security Report released in December 2021, which underlines the country's low food self-sufficiency compared to other European nations. For instance, the Netherlands has a food self-sufficiency rate of 80%, and Spain stands at 75%. The situation is compounded by the reliance on a handful of large corporations that control much of the British food supply chain, raising concerns about the robustness and reliability of food distribution in a crisis.

The expert warns that there is a crucial need for the government and society to begin taking food security seriously, suggesting that the current lack of strategic planning could have dire consequences for the population in times of unexpected calamities. He calls for a clearer focus on how to achieve better self-sufficiency and preparedness in the face of these threats, stressing that the government is “ducking” the issue and needs to act to secure the nation’s food future.