How can the UK food shortage crisis be solved?

Who would have thought that, in 2023, the UK would be facing the problem of food shortages? There’s been widespread coverage of this crisis on the front pages because there’s a genuine public concern about the acute shortage of food. We don't see the exact extent of problems in the EU.

The UK is not self-sufficient in food production, as it heavily relies on imports to feed itself and drive economic growth. Government figures show that the UK imports 48%? of the total food consumed, including 46% of fresh vegetables and 84% of fresh fruit.

Post-Brexit trade barriers such as tedious paperwork, manual processing, inaccuracy, time delays, costs involved,? and supply chain issues have resulted in the huge crisis we face today.?

So what can be done about it??

To counter food shortages, the government should take a sensible and long-term approach to help our farming industry. Focus should also be placed on local and sustainable food production. Where possible, alternative sourcing options should also be considered. The government must also allow for careful consideration before taking certain policies forward.

Food shortages due to post-Brexit trade barriers can also be addressed by introducing technological solutions to address complex trade hurdles.

Automated solutions that simplfy the customs declarations process should be used by the traders and clearing agents. The cost of customs declarations and the time it takes to process paperwork should also be cut.?

At iCustoms, our team has worked tirelessly to simplify the complex customs declaration process. We have reduced the average customs entry time to 3 minutes from an average of 29 minutes. We’re excited to develop AI technology solutions with the help of ex HMRC technology leaders to address these issues. With our cutting-edge smart tools, we hope to encourage trade and enable the UK to overcome this food crisis.

To learn more about how iCustoms is playing its part, email us at [email protected].

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