The Agricultural and Food Network (AFN) has today published its long-awaited report, Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050, marking the culmination of three years of collaborative work involving over 150 contributors.

The report sets out a bold vision for transforming the UK’s food system in response to growing pressures from climate change, global instability, and public health challenges. AFN identifies three core areas for urgent action: agriculture, land use, and diet.

Supporting more resilent farming

Farmers are on the front line of climate change and economic shocks. We must back them with a clear plan, with long-term financial confidence, transition support and skills development, that enables their businesses to flourish as diets shift – so we can grow more fruit, vegetables and pulses, reduce business over-reliance on livestock, and develop mixed farming systems that bring animals and cropping together. We must help farmers boost productivity and resilience so they are better able to feed us in difficult times, because food security is national security.

Smarter land use

Land is a limited resource, and those who manage it are in a unique position of responsibility to meet the national interests of food production, habitat management, climate change mitigation and producing multiple other public goods. Working with farmers and land managers to collectively plan land use creates a major opportunity to better meet these needs for the nation, while giving farmers the clarity they need for their businesses. This requires government leadership, balancing trade-offs, and fair incentives for farmers and communities.

Healthier diets

Eating well shouldn’t be a struggle. We need to make healthy food the easiest option for people. That means changing how food is marketed, sold and priced. As we eat differently, new opportunities will arise for UK farming to grow more of what we need for better health. Healthier diets will also reduce our dependence on imported animal products. A healthier population will mean a less burdened health system, a stronger economy and a fairer society.

Joined-up action for a better future

AFN calls for joined-up leadership to avoid future crises and build a food system that is fairer, healthier, and more secure.

Further digests exploring each transformation in depth will follow in the coming days.

AFN Launches New UK Food Plan for 2050