The inquiry will look at the key factors currently affecting the availability of food – such as the continuing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine - and the outlook for food inflation.

The Institute of Grocery Distribution, a trade body, predicts that food inflation will hit 15% in the coming months and the Bank of England says the supply disruption factors could last into 2023.

The Committee is also asking how the pressures on supply and food inflation are affecting consumers’ access to healthy and nutritious food as well as their impact on businesses.

It will examine whether the Government’s proposals in its recent food strategy paper will affect resilience in the food supply chain, improve access to good quality food, and support farmers, fishers and food producers.

The Committee will also consider if the UK’s current level of food self-sufficiency remains appropriate, and how the Government’s forthcoming land use strategy should strike the right balance between food production and other goals. 

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The Chair of the EFRA Committee, Sir Robert Goodwill, said:

“There are few things more important than the food we eat – where it comes from, its quality and its price.

“Our food producers are facing extremely challenging times – with rising energy and fertiliser prices as well as the war in Ukraine. These pressures are now also being felt by consumers.

“The government is not responsible for all the problems facing food supply chains but it is essential it does all it can to help manage these pressures as it implements its new food strategy.  

“About three quarters of the types of food we can produce in this country are supplied by our own farmers, producers and growers. We want to start a debate about whether that’s the right level and what that means for how we use our land and the priority we put on food production”.   

The Terms of Reference for the inquiry are:

1. What are the key factors affecting the resilience of food supply chains and causing disruption and rising food prices – including input costs, labour shortages and global events? What are the consequences for UK businesses and consumers?
2. What is the outlook for UK food price inflation in the short and medium term? What policy interventions should the Government consider to manage these pressures?
3. How are the rising cost of living and increasing food prices affecting access to healthy and nutritious food?
4. How will the proposals in the Government’s food strategy policy paper affect:
5. the resilience of food supply chains?;
6. the agri-food and seafood sectors?; and
7. access to healthy, nutritious food?
8. Is the current level and target of food self-sufficiency in England still appropriate?
9. How could the Government’s proposed land use strategy for England improve food security? What balance should be struck between land use for food production and other goals – such as environmental benefit?

Picture: robertgoodwill.co.uk