A new report by researchers from the University of York, Anglia Ruskin University and other institutions outlines how the UK’s food system could be pushed into crisis by major disruptions to supply.
Drawing on interviews with more than 30 experts, the study maps how events such as international conflict, extreme weather or cyber-attacks could trigger cascading failures in interconnected parts of the food system, leading to sudden shortages, sharp price spikes, and increased strain on communities and markets. These shocks could disproportionately impact low-income households, restricting access to food and increasing insecurity, potentially fuelling social tension, food fraud and even unrest if not managed effectively.
The report highlights that recent shocks from cyber disruption at major retailers to global price volatility tied to the war in Ukraine have already exposed fragilities in “just-in-time” supply chains and structural weaknesses in national food resilience. It argues that strengthening UK food resilience will require a whole-systems approach, including boosting energy security, diversifying food value chains and encouraging more varied and resilient diets.
The authors stress that understanding how the food system behaves under extreme pressure is a first step towards preventing worst-case scenarios, and that more long-term planning is needed in the future.
Read the report here: Potential Pathways and Solutions to Acute Food System Crisis in the UK (MDPI)
