Food Supply Resilience 27 October 2015 Dugald Strathearn Food Policy Unit Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UK East Coast Tidal Surge 2013! Norfolk Coast December 5/6 2013. This is the only dramatic picture you’re getting from me!

What is the Food Sector? Contribution of the Food Chain to the UK economy £103bn GVA in 2013 Food manufacturing is the biggest manufacturing sector in the UK, with GVA of £26.3bn (17% of total manufacturing), more than automotive and aerospace combined The sector brings 16,000 new products to market (FDF estimate), more than France and Germany combined and invests £1 billion in innovation each year. In 2014 it employed 3.8 million people, 14% of the workforce We all rely on its products every day to stay alive

Give some key stats

Critical National Infrastructure Food is one of 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors Government works with industry to identify, manage and mitigate risk to food supply through groups such the Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group Government conducts research and provides good practice guidance into risks and vulnerabilities to support industry to build its own resilience This included a study of resilience of supply chains to east coast port disruption, very useful during this year’s Calais events (more from Kamal soon on the last one!) Calais case study

Key factors for Resilience of the Food Chain The size and diversity of the sector, from major multinationals to micro businesses. A wide variety of sourcing, both domestic and imported Critical dependence on transport (road and maritime), energy and IT

Risks and Interdependencies Government risk assessment processes focus on two key risks to UK Food Supply chains: a. Disruption to domestic distribution e.g. milk supply b. Disruption to international supplies to the UK e.g. disruption to international ports

Conclusion Food is a big, diverse, and important sector The UK food chain has strength in depth and variety However food supply is critically dependent on other Critical National Infrastructures sectors such as transport, energy and communications Hand over to Kamal – the critical dependency line gives the link.