A RECENT Defra report revealing that the percentage of highly food-secure households in the UK has dropped from 87% in 2019/20 to 83% in 2022/23, has prompted a call for more support for potato and other vegetable growers.
A highly-food secure household is defined as all people at all times having access to enough food for an active, healthy life.
While a large majority of households in the UK continue to be food secure, the report reveals a notable decrease, which has coincided with increased financial pressures to household budgets from high general inflation and high food inflation.
Soil Association Head of Food Policy Rob Percival said the report shows the UK is facing significant challenge and “rapid and radical” action is needed.
“Climate breakdown and nature loss are already undermining the UK’s food security, and it’s going to get worse. We need this new government to listen. Many farmers have been warning of a growing climate threat for years, and we’re yet to see the necessary response. Rhetorical commitments to ‘roadmaps’ and ‘strategies’ aren’t going to fill bellies – we need hard, secure investment in nature-friendly and organic farming, which can help build resilience by protecting soils and wildlife.
“The promised government food plan needs to boost British fruit and veg production and consumption while addressing dietary inequalities and ensuring everyone can access healthy, fresh and minimally-processed foods that do not come with a big cost to the environment.”
Earlier this year the Soil Association led a campaign calling for a horticulture strategy that aims to double British fruit and veg production and consumption, through agroecological farming.
The campaign and policy report, co-authored with The Wildlife Trusts and Sustain, urged government to start with supporting schools to serve up healthy, veg-packed meals for children.
Photo: congerdesign
