By Kerry Maxwell, communications manager, British Poultry Council
NFU’s research revealing 15% of poultry producers were “unlikely or unsure” they would still be operating beyond November 2025 reads as a sobering glimpse into the future of British poultry.
Broad commitments from Government suggests there is a keenness to address systemic problems, but to get to the core of ‘fairness,’ we need to explore it from all dimensions. From commercial fairness to resource management, we are long overdue a conversation about the true cost of a sustainable food system – one incorporating fairness, security, livelihoods, and overall resilience. That begins by defining what we value from an industry feeding the nation.
The long and short of it is producers need to maintain the excellent standards that define British poultry in the face of massive financial pressure. We need an economically secure environment that unlocks investment in service of setting out a vision for a system that feeds people, tackles inequalities with quality and affordable food, and promotes a liveable climate for all.
Equally, we have a government that emphasises the importance of thriving domestic production but has created an environment for it to do anything but. We all know the most reliable source of food is what we produce at home. If we want more of it, the only rules should be that it is safe, affordable, nutritious, and the systems producing it as low impact as possible. This is criteria not unfamiliar to our industry, and calls for clear self-sufficiency targets are not a new idea. But in pursuit of equitable distribution of opportunity, resource, and benefit in the supply chain, this is our chance to set targets that align with these principles. We not only enhance our food security with them but foster the viability of domestic production so it can thrive.
I’m going to plug our ‘2024 and Beyond’ report again because this is exactly what we set out to do. At a time we should be championing our farmers and producers, NFU’s data should be a wake-up call for swift and decisive action to secure the future of British farming. This is our opportunity to turn this stark figure into a rallying point for a renewed commitment to self-sufficiency and a fair, sustainable supply chain, ensuring that the story of British poultry production remains one of national success than a chapter of decline.