In the pursuit of fairness in the supply chain, involving the equitable distribution of opportunity, resource, and benefit, we have to define what we value as an industry feeding the nation.

The NFU published research last week revealing 15% of poultry producers were “unlikely or unsure” they would still be operating beyond November 2025. This is not just a stark statistic; this reads as a sobering glimpse into the future of British poultry that, time and time again, BPC members have expressed deep concern over. From the distribution of burden to the price consumers pay, there is a clear call for a more equitable, sustainable approach to ensure the viability of our industry.

Poultry is half the meat the nation eats. Broad commitments from Government suggests there is a keenness to address systemic problems, and this may very well be a positive – we all know what the problems are, really. But to get into the core of ‘fairness,’ we need to explore it from all dimensions. From commercial fairness to resource efficiency to environmental management, what is being referred to as “artificially low prices” are symbolic of a far greater problem. We need to have a long overdue conversation about the true cost of a sustainable food system – one that incorporates fairness, security, livelihoods, and overall supply chain resilience. That begins by defining what we value from an industry that is feeding the nation.

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 food and farming.

The long and short of it is that our producers still need to maintain the excellent standards that define British poultry meat, in the face of squeezes and massive financial pressure. Therefore, 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. If we get that right, the win is a society that doesn’t waste potential – from human to economic. Tackling inequality is at the heart of a sustainable food system. Poultry serves that purpose, so businesses must be given the confidence to increase investment and capacity to make that happen.

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, and nutritious, and the systems producing it as low impact as possible. This is criteria not entirely unfamiliar to our industry, and calls for clear self-sufficiency targets are not a new idea. But in the pursuit of fairness in the supply chain, involving the equitable distribution of opportunity, resource, and benefit, this is our chance to set targets that align with these principles. We not only enhance our food security with them, but we foster the viability of domestic production and set it up to thrive, with the well-being of people and planet in mind.

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. The fact this is the hardest time for Government to confront this problem is precisely why they should.