York informs government COVID-19 food reports

International Trade Committee (ITC): The COVID-19 pandemic and international trade

Professor Bob Doherty (N8 AgriFood chair), who leads the IKnowFood project, provided evidence to the International Trade Committee earlier this year on the impact of COVID-19 on UK food supplies. 

His expert opinion helped to inform the Committee’s report on COVID-19 and international trade which has recently been released.

Professor Doherty said: "It was great to be involved in this important House of Commons inquiry. COVID-19 has clearly highlighted the importance of international trade to UK food security, with the UK importing around 47 per cent of its food. In fact, 30 per cent of our food is supplied by 'just in time' supply chains from the EU. 

“Despite initial shortages at the beginning of the pandemic caused by panic buying, the speedy frictionless movement of goods via the single market has proved to be resilient. This shows that a good trade deal with the EU that maintains prices and the speedy movement of food goods is so important for the nation’s food security."

Read more about the ITC report

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee: COVID-19 and food supply

Professor Doherty and the IKnowFood research programme also supplied written evidence for the EFRA Committee report on COVID-19 and food supply.

Based on their research, the team submitted two pieces of evidence discussing access to healthy food during the pandemic and the impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain. 

The report highlights the rising severity of UK food poverty, particularly in children and the need for annual UK food insecurity monitoring (currently the assessment is every five-years). The committee also identify the crucial role played by undisrupted cross-border food supply chains during the pandemic in the nation's food security. 

Read more about the EFRA report