THE UK’s level of self-sufficiency in food has dropped from 87 per cent to only 68 per cent in 20 years.

A parliamentary select committee this week warned complacency was “a genuine risk to future UK food security”.

Anne McIntosh, chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee, said Defra must be put in overall charge.

At least three government departments are responsible for food security the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

Miss McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Filey and Malton, said: “To ensure coherent planning and action, overall strategy must be led by Defra, who must ensure a robust approach across Whitehall.”

The report said UK self-sufficiency levels in fruit and vegetables had fallen the most, but key cereal crops such as wheat had not seen yields increase for 15 years.

Precision farming could help boost productivity in many areas but not much was moving from research to the field. Commercial partners were needed to make it viable.

The committee supported the Governments £160 million Agritech Strategy to transfer technology into farm practices, but said it needed more funding.

It also said the Government must lead a public debate to counter food safety fears among consumers about genetically modified (GM) crops. It should also ensure a more evidencebased approach to EU licensing of GM crops.

Government must draw up plans to reduce the UK’s reliance on imported soybean from South America for animal feed as increasing demand for meat and dairy from emerging countries such as China and India are threatening supplies and affecting prices.

George Eustice, farms minister, had told the committee more could be done to produce animal feed here.

New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) cropping rules may also encourage diversification into using legumes as break-crops. Government had also put £18 million into researching how the industry could reduce reliance on protein sourced overseas.

The committee called on supermarkets to shorten supply chains to reduce the threat of disruption and to help consumers know where their food was from.

It said ministers must also draw up detailed plans to reduce farming’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Miss McIntosh said: “If we want our food production and supply systems to be secure, Government and food producers must plan to meet the impacts of climate change, population growth, and increasing global demand for food.

Agriculture produces nine per cent of UK emissions of which livestock production contributes 49 per cent.

Miss McIntosh said: “If we are to curb emissions and adjust to climate change, we need a significant shift in how the UK produces food.

“Farmers also need better longer-term weather forecasts and more resilient production systems to be able to cope with severe weather events such as the floods that devastated the Somerset levels last winter.”