Measures to support farmers and help the UK’s farming and food sector grow were announced last week by the government.

The support package is designed to support domestic food production and boost innovation so that the sector can reach its full potential.

A new blueprint

A blueprint to grow the UK fruit and vegetable sector is included as part of the measures. This is a plan to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables produced in the UK.

The blueprint includes plans for ensuring access to affordable and sustainable energy and water, cutting red tape so that glasshouses can be built more quickly and easily, and new investment aimed at boosting innovation.

To look at the blueprint in full, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-blueprint-to-grow-the-uk-fruit-and-vegetable-sector

Food Security Index

A new annual Food Security Index has also been published. This index is UK-wide and gives an assessment of the state of UK food security in 2023 to 2024.

Rather than being a single figure, the index looks at 9 indicators across a range of areas. This allows for a more qualitative, well-rounded assessment to be made.

The new index shows an overall assessment of UK food security as being broadly stable. It does mention though that there are longer term risks from climate change, and an exceptionally wet winter and spring in 2024 pose significant challenges to some domestic production.

To read about the Food Security Index and its 9 indicators in full, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-food-security-index-2024/uk-food-security-index-2024