The UK Food Production-to-Supply Ratio Was 60% in 2025

Defra’s 2025 food production-to-supply ratio was 60% for all food and 72% for indigenous-type food. These compare farmgate values, include UK production that is exported, and do not mean that 60% of the food people eat is British. A separate origins-of-consumption measure put the UK share at 58%, the EU at 23% and the rest of the world at 19%.

Food security depends on reliable domestic production, diverse trading partners, supply-chain resilience and people’s ability to afford food. Neither a high production ratio nor a particular country of origin guarantees secure or safe supplies.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

  • 60% was the UK all-food production-to-supply ratio in 2025
  • 72% was the ratio for indigenous-type food in 2025
  • 58% of food consumed came from UK production on Defra’s farmgate-value measure
  • 23% came from the EU on that 2025 measure
  • 19% came from the rest of the world
  • 35 countries accounted for 90% of imported food supply in 2025
  • 22 countries accounted for 80% of imported food supply
  • Farmgate value: these are value-based measures, not shares of calories, weight or individual meals
  • Exports matter: the production ratio includes exported domestic output; the origins measure removes it
  • Indigenous-type food: the measure is limited to foods that can be produced domestically
  • £162.3 billion: UK agri-food gross value added in 2024, covering the wider food chain
  • 6.2% of UK gross value added came from that agri-food chain in 2024
  • Diversity: domestic production and varied import sources both contribute to resilience

What Does Self-Sufficiency Mean for Food Security?

Self-sufficiency measures domestic production relative to supply. Food security is broader: people need dependable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Imports can diversify supplies, while both imported and domestic production can be disrupted.

The UK Food Security Report considers risks across the whole system, including:

Weather and climate: droughts, flooding and other hazards can affect crops, livestock and transport in the UK and overseas.

Trade and logistics: concentrated sources, disrupted routes and changes at borders can affect availability and purchasing arrangements.

Inputs: energy, fertiliser, feed, labour and transport all matter to the operation and cost of food supply chains.

UK Food Production

Domestic production differs between products and years. A single national ratio should not be applied to each food category:

  • Cereals: crop output and the balance of imports and exports change with harvests and demand.
  • Dairy: domestic milk production coexists with trade in dairy products.
  • Red meat: the UK produces and trades beef, sheep meat and pig meat; their supply balances differ.
  • Poultry: domestic production and imports both contribute to supply; safety controls are required for both.
  • Fruit and vegetables: product type and season affect domestic availability and import requirements, so fruit and vegetables should not be assigned a single unsupported combined ratio.

Food Self-Sufficiency and Food Safety

Food safety controls must address the actual product and process, whether the food is British or imported:

  • Import requirements: follow the rules applicable to the product and its destination, including the distinct arrangements for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  • Traceability: identify suppliers and business customers so problems can be investigated and affected products withdrawn or recalled.
  • Authenticity: check descriptions, specifications and suppliers, and report suspected food crime to the appropriate authority.
  • Hazard controls: manage allergens, pathogens and contamination throughout preparation, storage and transport; origin alone does not establish safety.

Written by Food Safety Experts

This guide was produced by the team at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, a UK provider of RoSPA-approved online food hygiene training. Understanding where UK food comes from is foundational to understanding food safety and supply chain integrity.

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Mark McShane
Mark McShane
Health & Safety Training Specialist, Online CPD Academy

Mark writes about food safety, food hygiene and accredited online training for Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, part of Online CPD Academy.