Herefordshire farmer says full self-sufficiency not achievable

The National Farming Union (NFU) is calling on ministers to make sure self-sufficiency doesn't decline.

'Self-sufficiency day' marks the day in which British produce would run out if we were not importing food from across the world.

Martin Williams, a farmer in Herefordshire and the local representative for the NFU, said, "I think 93% of vegetables historically have been domestic and European.

"We imported £2.7 billion worth of vegetables in 2022. Those are big numbers you know, they're massive numbers, so intrinsically we're not self-sufficient in those items."

Martin thinks that consumer demand impact on where our produce is coming from. He said, "You might say, well, we should be 100% self-sufficient.

"That would mean we would all eat the same diets seasonally rather than have the choices that we currently have."

"How much is wasted before it gets to the supermarket shelves?"

Wet weather last winter and the global impacts of the war in Ukraine have contributed to uncertainty in the farming industry.

Martin Williams said, "Unfortunately, due to the weather in, the quality wasn't very good, therefore expectation on a supermarket shelf for one is that you have a beautifully packaged item of beautifully presented vegetables.

"If that doesn't happen, it goes in the bin. So food waste is quite a big one."

"The UK's self-sufficiency in fresh vegetables is at its lowest since records began" say the NFU

The NFU are calling on ministers to look at the agricultural industry in order to protect consumers in this country.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: "Food from other countries will always form a proportion of our daily diets, but we must recognise the vulnerability of global food supply chains.

"The importance of a stable food supply here at home to our nation's health, as well as its vital contribution to our economy."

A Government spokesperson said: "This Government recognises that food security is national security.

"That is why we will restore stability and confidence amongst the sector by introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen our food security alongside nature's recovery."

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