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<p>The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. It is well equipped to deal with
situations with the potential to cause disruption. Our high degree of food security
is built on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports
through stable trade routes. Domestic food production, coupled with international
trade, gives us national resilience. When it comes to food we can produce here, we
are 74% self-sufficient. Our aim is to broadly maintain the current level of food
that we produce domestically and boost production in sectors where there are the biggest
opportunities. Defra has a collaborative relationship with industry which allows us
to effectively respond to disruption, should it occur.</p><p> </p><p>Some supermarkets
applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather
affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa, where a high proportion of produce
consumed in UK at this time of year is grown. However, with the exception of one retailer,
these limits have now been removed, reflecting that fact that supply is returning
to normal levels.</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 published in December 2021. This report will serve as an evidence base for future
policy work. Defra publishes annual statistics on horticulture, including some self-sufficiency
statistics here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/latest-horticulture-statistics"
target="_blank">Latest horticulture statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).</a></p>
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