Food security: Stats are reminder of the importance of farming communities to the UK

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

Commenting on the latest DEFRA food security report, which reveals that the proportion of food secure households declined from 92% in financial year ending 2020 to 90% in financial year ending 2023, Liberal Democrat Environment and Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Farron MP said:

“For years, the former Conservative government completely neglected British farmers who are so vital for our economy, food security and environment. 

“These statistics are a stark reminder of just how important farming communities are to the rest of the country as producers of food and the stewards of our countryside.

‘The failure of both the Conservative and Labour governments is that their agricultural policy actively disincentivises the production of food. This is as outrageous as it is foolish. 

"Liberal Democrats believe that caring for nature and producing food go hand in hand. Yet the other two parties treat them as if we can only have one or the other. Farmers are both food producers and environmentalists so they know that this approach is wrong and we agree with them."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The report can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2024