11 December 2025

This Business Briefing outlines why transforming the UK food system is both an urgent necessity and a major opportunity for industry leadership. It highlights the growing vulnerabilities facing supply chains, the rising costs of poor diet and climate impacts, and the compelling business case for early action. The briefing sets out clear priority actions, such as diversifying supply chains, improving food systems data, and accelerating protein diversification, that can help businesses build resilience, drive innovation, and stay ahead of regulatory and market shifts. This document is designed to support business leaders in understanding what transformation means in practice and how they can shape a more secure, sustainable and profitable food future. A big thank you to Ali Morpeth and Veronica Moran at Planeatry Alliance for producing this briefing.

➡️ Download the full briefing ⬅️or read a summary of the points below:

The Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050 is a collective vision for the future of food. It brings together the insights of more than 150 experts and the support of over 3,000 AFN Network+ partners.

Why Transformation Can’t Wait

Over recent years, the food system’s vulnerability to sudden shocks has become starkly apparent. By acting now, we can tackle climate change, protect public health, and secure food for future generations – unlocking benefits that touch every community, business and farm.

☁️ 38% of UK emissions are from the food system. By the 2040s the food system will be the biggest source.

📈 1% increase in food price inflation in European countries due to climate impacts.

💷 £268 billion/year – the cost of poor diet outcomes including lost productivity in the UK.

👪 Two-thirds of UK adults obese and under 1% fully meet dietary guidelines.

🚢 50% of vegetables & 85% of fruit imported – much of our cereals harvest goes to feed animals rather than people.

😰 Over 7.2 million food insecure – an 80% increase in 3 years.

The Opportunity We Must Seize

📉 Save billions in healthcare costs

💂🏾‍♀️ Strengthen national resilience

🫘 Provide healthy food for our society

💦 Improve water quality

🚜 Create new rural jobs

🪺 Enhance biodiversity

5 Signals You Can’t Ignore

The food system will change – with or without us

🚜 Farming is under strain

🌳 Current land use can’t meet future needs

🍽️ The UK can’t afford poor diets

🧩 A fragmented approach only gets us so far

Roadmap Explained

Timeline for Transformation

2025–2030 Lay the groundwork for change. Outcome: A clear direction of travel is set with early wins proving change is possible. Expand and mainstream successful approaches

2030–2040 Expand and mainstream successful approaches. Outcome: Three core transformations are visible across the system and are becoming the norm. Lock in transformation by embedding integrated systems

2040–2050 Lock in transformation by embedding integrated systems. Outcome: A food system that is healthier, fairer and more resilient, delivering benefits for everyone.

Business Priority Actions:

1. Support farm diversification, new supply chains and infrastructure.
2. Develop more effective food systems data to track progress
3. Report on protein split sales.
4. Publish food system transition plans with measurable targets.
5. Take emerging opportunities to offset emission and inset within supply chains with monitoring, reporting and verifications.
6. Engage and build public understanding for diet shift and systems change.
7. Redesign the food environmnet to prioritise healthy foods.
8. Restrict advertising and marketing on unhealthy foods so that healthy options become the default.

Call to Action for Businesses:

Transforming the food system is a defining opportunity for business because it connects resilience, innovation, and long-term profitability. The Roadmap for Resilience highlights that the current food system’s vulnerabilities pose direct risks to markets, supply chains, and consumer trust. Acting now allows businesses to lead in building a food system that not only protects future food security but also unlocks new value through diversified supply chains, data-driven transparency, and circular resource use. By embedding health, sustainability and resilience into strategies, businesses can seize the competitive edge in delivering innovation and shaping a food economy that supports both planetary and human wellbeing.