Committee Chair Sir Robert Goodwill comments on food security

The Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, has today welcomed a contribution from the former Director-General of MI5, Baroness Eliza Mannigham-Buller, to the debate about food security.

Speaking at the National Farmers Union fifth annual Henry Plumb lecture, Baroness Manningham-Buller said the UK’s food supply “is part of our national security, including those ‘essential workers’ who grow and harvest it, and produce crops, vegetables, fruit, and even wine.”

Sir Robert Goodwill said:

“I welcome Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller's contribution to the debate on food security. She is right to highlight the links between food security and national security, particularly in these extremely worrying times of war in Europe, high food inflation and relentless pressures on our farmers and food producers.

“The Committee’s investigation into this topic is still ongoing and we will be hearing from a Defra Minister in the New Year to discuss government policies on self-sufficiency and land use to see how we can ensure the UK continues to benefit from a robust, fair and resilient food supply chain”.

Sir Robert’s comment was first published on December 16 2022 by Commercial Greenhouse Grower but it may be used freely after 0800 on December 16 without citing this outlet.