The report - Food Security

Cover of a report that states: National Preparedness Commission; Main report to the National Preparedness Commission; Just in Case: narrowing the UK civil food resilience gap by Tim Lang, Professor Emeritus of Food Policy, Centre for Food Policy; City St George's, University of London. With Natalie Neumann and Antony So

This website, which mainly applies to England and Wales, is based on a report written by Professor Tim Lang, Natalie Neumann and Antony So.

Published in February 2025, Just in Case: narrowing the UK civil food resilience gap is a call to action for the public and policymakers to defend our food and secure our future. It was commissioned by the National Preparedness Commission.

Download the report and the executive summary on the National Preparedness Commission website.

Visit the National Preparedness Commission website

15 key recommendations from the report

Professor Tim Lang proposes 15 key actions:

Legislate for a comprehensive UK food policy – Introduce a Food Security and Resilience Act to ensure a sustainable and resilient food system.
Pass a law that obligates the government to feed the public in crises – Formalise government responsibility for crisis food provision, drawing on Sweden’s model.
Shift to a just-in-case food system – Reform logistics to prepare for supply chain shocks, replacing the just-in-time approach.
Reassess food as critical national infrastructure – Require the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to treat food security as a core component of national infrastructure planning.
Create a national council for food security – Establish an advisory body to provide evidence-based, consistent advice on food resilience.
Integrate food into national and community risk registers – Risk assessments should include food-related risks, considering local conditions and community responses.
Include food in the National Infrastructure Commission’s work plans – The National Infrastructure Commission should incorporate food security into its work plans and advice.
Update crisis communication – Revise public messaging and integrate food issues into messaging planning.
Research stockpiling and rationing – Investigate stockpiling, rationing and integrating local food providers into emergency food systems.
Engage civil society – Engage civil society organisations to improve emergency food advice, replacing the ‘Prepare’ programme with trusted systems.
Form local food resilience committees – Create committees at the local level, building on existing food policy networks and chaired by trusted local experts.
Prioritise urban and decentralised food production in planning – Amend land-use policies to support regional and urban food production while addressing climate and social equity goals.
Promote regional food strategies – Encourage collaboration among metro mayors and devolved governments to develop regional food policies.
Foster food resilience learning exchanges – Establish town, city, village and institution exchanges for knowledge-sharing on sustainable food systems.
Invest in research – Fund studies into food vulnerabilities, crisis impacts and demographic-specific resilience measures.

“The UK’s post-War food system, while revolutionary in its time, is no longer fit for purpose. To safeguard our future, we must prioritise resilience at every level – from local communities to national frameworks. Food resilience is not just about surviving a crisis but thriving despite it. This report stands apart from current frameworks by taking into account the public’s current attitudes and understanding of food risks, and asking how civil society can be better engaged to ultimately become more resilient.”
Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap

Seven steps towards civil food resilience

The report proposes seven steps to civil food resilience:

Learn from others – The UK should emulate steps taken by other counties, including improving coordination across government levels, ensuring public advice is accessible and the introduction of community guidelines around stockpiling.
Assess the public’s mood, perceptions and engagement – Develop a comprehensive food resilience tracker, increase public awareness of food risks and promote clear, accessible guidance to enhance trust and preparedness.
Map the community’s food assets – Shift from individual stockpiling to collective approaches, enabling shared food skills, resources, and multi-level coordination for equitable crisis preparedness.
Local authorities are key to building civil food resilience – Cities and regions play a vital role, fostering local frameworks, partnerships and integrated policies to enhance sustainability and readiness.
Create local food resilience committees to co-ordinate resilience preparation – Use local food resilience committees to map supply chains, build networks, assess risks and coordinate tailored, community-based food preparedness.
The UK central state must create and maintain a coherent food policy – A clear national food policy is urgently needed to set goals, improve coordination, and ensure resilience through proactive legislation and strategy.
Re-set the UK Government Resilience Framework for food – A national food resilience and security council should integrate food resilience into policy, ensuring preparedness, sustainability, and public trust through interdisciplinary collaboration.

“Food security is a cornerstone of national resilience. This report highlights the urgent need for a coordinated, whole-society approach to ensure that no one in the UK is left vulnerable in the face of future crises. The risks to our food systems are more pronounced than ever before. From floods in key farming regions to disruptions in global trade, we are facing a confluence of threats that could undermine our ability to feed ourselves. The recommendations provide a clear path forward, and it is vital that we act now to implement them.”
Lord Toby Harris, Chair of the National Preparedness Commission