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<p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the
Covid-19 response. It is well equipped to deal with situations with the potential
to cause disruption.</p><p> </p><p>Our high degree of food security is built on supply
from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable
trade routes. We produce 60% of all the food we need, and 73% of food which we can
grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed
little over the last 20 years.</p><p> </p><p>UK consumers have access through international
trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round
basis. This supplements domestic production, and also ensures that any disruption
from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security
of supply.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising the importance of food security, in the Agriculture
Act 2020, the Government made a commitment to produce an assessment of our food security
at least once every three years. The first UK Food Security Report was produced in
2021 and the next will be published by December 2024. This report serves as an evidence
base for policy work.</p><p> </p><p>At the NFU Conference on 20 February 2024, the
Prime Minister announced that we will introduce an annual Food Security Index to underpin
the three-yearly UK Food Security report. This will present the key data and analysis
needed to monitor how we are maintaining our current levels of self-sufficiency and
overall food security.</p><p> </p><p>We will publish the first draft of the Food Security
Index during the second UK Farm to Fork Summit this Spring.</p>
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