A vulnerable food system and dependence deemed dangerous

The COVID-19 pandemic that slowed trade in Europe has also revealed, according to analysts, the vulnerability of the British food system which is dangerously dependent on two EU countries for fresh vegetables.

 

 

 

An article in Nature Food resuming a study from the University of York warns of the lack of diversity in the country's sources of supply. This is a point of "acute vulnerability" according to the authors.

 

 

 

The United Kingdom is very dependent on Spain and the Netherlands for the majority of its imports of fresh vegetables and the Strait of Dover for a large part of the imported fruit and vegetables. The study reveals that 83% of lettuce imported into the UK goes through Dover, as well as 67% of tomatoes and 77% of strawberries.

 

 

 

According to the study, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic (slowdown in trade, tight supply chain flows, labor market problems) could be a taste of a Brexit without agreement, if the United Kingdom leaves the transition period without a commercial agreement at the end of the year.

 

 

 

"We need a new strategic plan to reorient the UK food system in order to grow more food sustainably in the UK," said Dr. Philip Garnett of the University of York, co-author of the study.

 

 

 

Among the study's proposals: further diversify crops, invest in skills, training and automation to solve labor problems, evaluate new approaches such as vertical indoor farming.