TO BE PUBLISHED May 2026
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This conference will examine the way forward for strengthening UK food security.
The agenda will bring out latest thinking on strategic and practical approaches to supporting domestic production and resilience, in the face of ongoing pressures on the food system and household budgets - as well as the impact of heightened geopolitical uncertainty affecting supply chains, energy and fertiliser markets.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to consider immediate priorities alongside ongoing issues, in the context of major policy strands, including the UK Government Food Strategy and Food Security Report 2024. Areas for discussion include factors affecting production, supply chains and food costs, as well as the management of risks linked to climate change.
Discussion will also consider next steps following the recent publication of the Land Use Framework for England, and the plans it sets out for a Land Use Unit to produce spatial priorities and a commitment of up to £50m to support farmers in strengthening climate resilience. Attendees will assess implications for spatial planning, infrastructure and land management, as well as approaches to improving coordination and accountability across national and local strategies.
Further discussion will examine findings from the Farming Profitability Review and how its recommendations on farm incomes, supply chain fairness, regulatory requirements and access to investment might be taken forward through the forthcoming 25-Year Farming Roadmap. The development of growth plans for the horticulture and poultry sectors will also be considered, including priorities for strengthening domestic production and improving productivity and resilience.
The agenda will also consider options for reducing barriers to investment and private finance, alongside the role of the Farming and Food Partnership Board in supporting coordinated action across government, regulators and the sector.
Land use priorities & supply chain resilience
Longer-term priorities for land use and investment will be discussed, including how trade-offs might be managed between food production, nature recovery, housing delivery and renewable energy objectives. Sessions will consider approaches to multifunctional land management, as well as priorities for spatial planning and infrastructure that supports productive and resilient farming systems.
Delegates will also assess practical approaches to strengthening supply chain resilience. Areas for discussion include strategies for reducing reliance on imported food and critical inputs for farming and food production where appropriate, identifying opportunities for growth across production and processing, and supporting diversification that safeguards continuity of supply. Attendees will consider risks associated with just-in-time supply chains, the balance of power within food supply chains, and what would constitute fair contract terms to support sustainable farm incomes. We expect discussion on how domestic production and supply chain arrangements can be structured to most effectively manage disruption linked to international instability and wider cost pressures.
Data, monitoring & planning tools
Delegates will consider priorities for improved data and monitoring systems to better support planning and decision-making across the food system. Areas for discussion include what stakeholders would want from food security monitoring, supply chain intelligence and early-warning systems to help anticipate pressures affecting production, trade and prices, and how information could be shared more effectively between government, industry and research organisations.
Attendees will also examine developments relating to agricultural land data, including the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification map and associated datasets. We expect discussion to focus on what stakeholders would expect from updated land classification and mapping to support land use decisions, agricultural productivity and long-term food security.
Innovation priorities, technology adoption & skills
The agenda will also consider areas of focus for agricultural innovation to support food security and long-term productivity, including deliberations in the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s ongoing Inquiry into Innovation and Global Food Security.
Delegates will discuss where innovation might be focused to most effectively support improved yields, resource efficiency and environmental outcomes, and what may be needed for new technologies and practices to scale across different farming systems.
Further discussion will examine barriers to adoption, including access to finance and investment, skills gaps within the agricultural workforce, labour availability and structural challenges faced by tenant and smaller holdings. Attendees will also consider practical mechanisms that could support wider adoption across the sector.
Household impacts & equity
Priorities for improving the affordability and availability of food for households will also be discussed, including how policy, procurement and local initiatives can be coordinated to most effectively support access to nutritious food while strengthening the resilience of the wider food system.
Delegates will consider how government and local approaches to food strategy, procurement and social support programmes might most effectively address food insecurity and support stable demand across the supply chain. The discussion will also reflect calls from some stakeholders for a Good Food Bill to establish a clearer statutory framework for a healthier and more sustainable food system.
Sessions will also assess approaches to managing food costs while maintaining nutritional outcomes, with attention to the effects of price volatility, supply chain disruption and climate-related pressures. Attendees will consider what may be needed to maintain public confidence and support equitable outcomes across regions and communities.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, NI; Department for Business and Trade; Department for the Economy, NI; Food Standards Agency; Food Standards Scotland; Natural England; Office for Environmental Protection; National Audit Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
