Why supporting British farming is about long-term food security

Food security is often discussed in terms of supply, prices and availability. But the longer-term question is a broader one: how do we make sure there is a strong, resilient food system for the future? 

Supporting British farming is part of that answer. 

It means maintaining the knowledge, skills, land and infrastructure needed to produce food here. It means recognising the value of a farming industry that can adapt to changing conditions while continuing to produce food for the people who live here. 

And it means understanding that food security is not simply about having enough food today. It is about protecting the ability to produce food tomorrow. 

A food system needs more than supply 

A resilient food system depends on many things working together. In 2024, 57% of the food consumed in the UK came from UK production, with 25% coming from the EU and  the remaining 18% from the rest of the world. The UK’s overall food production-to-supply ratio was 65%, rising to 77% for indigenous foods that can be produced in the UK. 

That means the UK is not, and cannot be, completely self-sufficient. Imports are an important part of the food system, particularly for foods that cannot be grown or produced here in sufficient quantities. 

But domestic production matters too. 

A resilient food system needs farmers with the knowledge to care for livestock and manage land. Skilled people are needed to process food, from butchery and baking to preparation and production. Local businesses, suppliers and customers all play a part in keeping that system connected. 

When those skills and connections are maintained, food is not simply moving through a supply chain. There is knowledge and capability at every stage. That matters when conditions change. 

Supporting British farming supports knowledge 

Farming is built on experience. At Blacker Hall Farm, farming has been part of the family for four generations. That experience sits behind the way livestock is reared, how food is handled and the standards expected across the business. 

This kind of knowledge is not something that can be replaced quickly. 

The statistics underline the importance of thinking about the future of the industry. In 2024, 38% of farm holders in England were aged 65 or over, while just 5% were under 35. 

Supporting British farming is therefore also about supporting the next generation. It helps keep knowledge in use and gives future farmers a reason to continue building on the experience that already exists. The skills involved in caring for livestock, managing land and producing food properly are built over time. 

The same applies beyond the farm. 

Food production depends on skilled Butchers, Bakers, Chefs and other people who understand how to handle ingredients properly. In 2024, the wider agri-food sector employed 4.2 million people in Great Britain, from agriculture and manufacturing through to retail and catering. 

When customers choose food produced and prepared by people with that knowledge, they are helping support the skills and businesses that make a more capable food system possible. 

Provenance gives people confidence 

Knowing where food comes from matters. 

At Blacker Hall Farm, livestock is reared on the farm, with butchery and food production also taking place on-site. That level of control provides a clear connection between the farm and the food that our customers buy. 

It also makes it easier to understand what you are choosing. 

Provenance is not about adding another label or making a product sound more impressive. It is about removing doubt. Where was it produced? Who prepared it? How has it been handled? 

The clearer those answers are, the more confident people can feel about the food they buy and serve. 

That connection between domestic production and food security is recognised in the UK Government’s own food security reporting, which describes strong and consistent domestic production, combined with diverse supply sources, as an important part of food security. 

Quality and resilience are connected 

Supporting British farming is not about choosing convenience at all costs. 

There is value in food that has been produced closer to home, in season where possible, and handled by people who understand the process from beginning to end. 

That approach can support quality, but it can also support resilience. 

A healthy domestic food system needs farmers who can continue producing food, businesses with the skills and infrastructure to process it, and customers who value the work involved. 

These things are all connected. 

The UK’s agri-food sector contributed £162.3 billion to the UK economy in 2024 and accounted for 6.2% of national gross value added (GVA). Agriculture itself contributed £14.5 billion. 

These figures reflect the scale of the wider food system. But the principle is straightforward: food production depends on a network of businesses and people, and that network needs to remain viable if it is to continue serving future generations. 

Food security is a long-term responsibility 

There is no single solution to the challenges facing food production. The UK will continue to rely on imports for some foods, and a resilient food system needs a diversity of supply sources. But strong domestic production remains an important part of the picture. 

Supporting British farming is one practical way to contribute to a stronger food system. It helps maintain farming knowledge, skilled jobs, local production and the infrastructure needed to bring food from farm to table. 

At Blacker Hall Farm, that connection is part of how we operate. Our Farm, Butchery, Bakery, food production, shop, restaurant and events are all connected by the same belief: food should be handled with care, knowledge and attention to detail. 

For us, supporting British farming is not about looking backwards. It’s about making sure the knowledge, skills and ability to produce good food here continue. 

Because long-term food security depends on more than what is available today. It depends on maintaining the people, places and knowledge that will help produce food tomorrow. Learn more about how our Farm operates.