CropLife UK and our members are committed to the sustainable production of safe, high-quality and affordable food. security.
"Food Security exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life." (World Food Summit, 1996)
While a large majority of UK households remain food secure, these has been a decline, from 92% in financial year ending (FYE) 2020 to 90% in FYE 2023. In the face of growing challenges such as climate change, population growth, and the rising cost of living, the need to enhance food security is more urgent than ever.
The essential role of crop protection
Globally, pests, weeds, and diseases already cause yield losses of up to 40%, and without effective crop protection, this could double. Crop protection therefore plays a critical role in helping farmers grow more food on less land by protecting crops from these challenges as well as raising productivity, ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food. It includes:
- Conventional Plant Protection Products (PPPs)
- Biopesticides
- Plant Biotechnology
- Digital and Precision Agriculture
With these tools, it means safe, healthy food can be grown more efficiently and preserved after harvest, reducing spoilage during storage, transportation, and shelf life. By preventing loss and improving supply, there is greater food availability and affordability.
Achieving this fully requires governments to work in partnership with industry to create a legislative and regulatory environment that supports innovation and secures the nation’s food supply. CropLife UK and our members remain dedicated to driving innovation and practices that improve food security.