The Yorkshire Post
·Aug 2026
If Britain is to invest intelligently in its own defence we might be wise to start out by ensuring we are better at supplying food
Britain’s first defence priority should be the ability to feed itself during a crisis, rather than investing primarily in vulnerable and expensive weapons such as aircraft carriers, argues Green Party councillor Andy Brown. With about 48% of its food imported, the UK is exposed to disrupted shipping routes, conflict and price spikes. Brown calls for seasonal diets, expanded orchards and market gardens, greater fruit and vegetable production, and better-targeted farm subsidies that support soil health and biodiversity. He does not advocate complete self-sufficiency, but says Britain should be capable of approaching full domestic food production in an emergency while continuing to trade normally.