LONDON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- British farmers' real incomes have remained stagnant since the 1970s, despite increased productivity and a shrinking workforce, according to a report released Thursday by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission (FFCC).
The report found that the average annual income for British farmers over the past five years was 32,272 pounds (about 41,778 U.S. dollars), unchanged from mid-1970s levels when adjusted for inflation. FFCC attributes this stagnation to falling farm produce prices, driven by food imports, supermarket dominance, and rising demand for ultra-processed foods.
To survive, many farmers have intensified operations, diversified, or expanded, forcing tens of thousands of small farms to close. Import competition and corporate control have further devalued key staples such as wheat, milk, and meat, leaving farmers with little power in the supply chain.
The report warned that Britain's food security is at risk due to a food system prioritizing cheap calories over sustainability, linking decades of cost-cutting to degraded soils, declining self-sufficiency in fresh produce, and vulnerability to climate shocks and trade disruptions.
Instead of making healthy diets affordable, the push for low-cost food has shifted costs onto public health and nature, lead author of the report, Charlie Taverner, said.
Britain now spends less on food than most nations but faces 268 billion pounds in annual health and environmental damages from an unhealthy food system.
FFCC CEO Sue Pritchard called for urgent reforms, warning that the current system is failing both farmers and consumers. "Policymakers must level the playing field to reward sustainable practices and rebuild food security," she said. (1 pound = 1.29 U.S. dollars)
