PTF warns Parliament: UK food resilience at risk without urgent government action
The Provision Trade Federation (PTF) has issued a stark warning to Parliament, stating that the UK Government lacks a coordinated food resilience strategy — leaving the nation vulnerable to escalating global and domestic threats.
In a direct submission to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Food and Drink, PTF director general Rod Addy urged policymakers to treat food supply as a critical national infrastructure and act swiftly to safeguard the welfare of UK citizens.
“The UK cannot afford to continue in this way or the consequences for it and the welfare and lives of its citizens could be dire,” Addy told the APPG, chaired by Mike Reader MP.
Representing sectors that account for 20% of UK household food expenditure and 130,000 jobs, the PTF’s submission highlights a growing list of risks that demand immediate attention:
- Cybersecurity threats to supply chain systems
- Climate change impacts disrupting production and logistics
- Rising input costs for raw materials, energy, and transport
- Weak infrastructure and fragmented policy support
- Labour and skills shortages across food manufacturing and logistics
- Risk of national power outages affecting production and distribution
- Over-reliance on critical raw materials and a handful of major retailers
- Disruption to global trade arteries like the Panama Canal
- Lack of preparedness for future pandemics
Addy stressed that while the UK food supply chain has historically performed well, recent shocks — from geopolitical conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East to extreme weather events — have exposed deep vulnerabilities. “These external shocks have challenged many long-standing assumptions about the inherent resilience of our supply chain models,” he said.
The PTF is calling for a government-led, industry-supported strategy with clear timelines and accountability. It urges policymakers to elevate food supply to the same level of priority as energy, transport, and healthcare — recognising it as one of the UK’s 14 critical infrastructures.
Mike Reader MP welcomed the submission, stating: “Global instability, climate impacts, rising costs and skills shortages are all complex issues that require coordinated thinking and action. The APPG looks forward to working with industry and government to shape practical, long-term solutions.”
The APPG on Food and Drink aims to foster dialogue between industry and Parliament through roundtables, site visits, and policy events. Its leadership includes Vice Chair Amanda Hick MP and Secretary Baroness McIntosh of Pickering.
