A new report from Policy Exchange, ‘Strengthening the UK’s Food Security: Innovation and investment in the Food Manufacturing Sector’, calls for the urgent need for the Government to develop a National Food Security Strategy that encompasses the entire food ecosystem – after years of high food price inflation and supply chains disrupted by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climatic events.

The report argues that the Government should place food security at the heart of Industrial Strategy and plans for growth – and finds that previous food security initiatives have focused too narrowly on agriculture. While farming remains vital, a strategy that encompasses the whole food ecosystem – including food manufacturing, logistics and retail – is essential to keep products on shelves and prices down. Investment in the Food and Drink Manufacturing sector has dropped by 30% since 2019 – despite an estimated industry turnover of £142 billion, as well as providing exports valued at over £24 billion.

The report – backed by a cross-party group of MPs and peers – makes 27 recommendations, across areas including investment, innovation, regulation and international trade, including:

• Government should develop a National Food Security Strategy that encompasses the entire food ecosystem, overseen by a Cabinet Committee or Ministerial working group.

• Government programmes, policies and funding opportunities aimed at enhancing food security should incorporate the whole food ecosystem rather than being narrowly focused on agriculture. This should include food manufacturing, logistics, wholesale, retail and hospitality.

• The British Business Bank should establish a new Food Security Transformation Fund focused on technology investment across the food ecosystem to help de-risk expensive capital investments and promote novel solutions across the food ecosystem that could contribute to food security.

• The Food Standards Agency should fast-track approvals for any product that has already been approved by trusted regulatory regimes in countries outside of the UK. This would allow more rapid approval of low-risk products and free up resources for other applications.

• The Government should make it easier for food suppliers to modify their inputs during periods of geopolitical disruption. This should include the ability to switch ingredients with a pre-approved list of substitute goods, as well as provisional preparation for the unilateral, temporary relaxation of tariffs and other trade restrictions on specific goods during another disruption.

• The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office should make strengthening global food security an increasing focus of the UK’s development spend.