More than 100 organizations, including major food retailers and charities, have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to elevate food security to a national priority, on par with energy and defense. The coalition, which includes companies such as Tesco, Danone, Aldi, Waitrose, and Co-op, along with groups like Amnesty International UK, Barnardo’s, and WWF-UK, has called for the introduction of a “Good Food Bill” aimed at strengthening the country’s food system and public health.

The letter highlights increasing threats to the UK’s food supply caused by rising costs, diet-related health issues, climate change, and geopolitical instability. Signatories point to a decline in domestic fruit and vegetable production—down 16% since 2015—resulting in the UK importing 78% of these products. They warn that the food system’s resilience has diminished, making it more vulnerable to future disruptions, which they describe as a matter of “when,” not “if.”

The coalition stresses the need for government mechanisms to prioritize food across all levels of policymaking, including health, agriculture, planning, and trade. Food insecurity already affects 15% of households with children, and economic pressures are pushing healthy diets out of reach for many families, with consequences that place additional burdens on the National Health Service.

Rising fertilizer costs, which have increased by approximately 40% over the past year due in part to international conflicts, combined with more frequent extreme weather events, further threaten harvest stability. This summer’s wildfires across Europe serve as a stark example of climate-related risks. The UK Government’s National Security Assessment has identified biodiversity loss as a direct threat to the country’s food supply. Additionally, food prices in the UK are projected to be 50% higher this November than at the onset of the cost-of-living crisis in mid-2021, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

The groups caution that many families coping with these economic challenges may resort to cheaper, less nutritious food options, reducing consumption of fruits and vegetables. Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts echoed these concerns, emphasizing the strain on the food system in recent weeks and advocating for increased investment. “We need a more resilient food system that attracts investment, backs British farmers and helps keep affordable, nutritious food on tables across the nation,” he said. Roberts called for food and farming to be central to government policy to ensure a stronger and more sustainable future.