A prominent group of UK food-system experts warns the country's food system is a tinderbox for social unrest, driven by climate crises, low incomes, fragile supply chains, and farming policies.

Recent incidents, such as the 2025 cyberattack on Marks & Spencer that disrupted online sales and logistics, are cited as wake-up calls demonstrating how disruptions can ripple into shortages and price volatility.

The report maps shock pathways through supply chains and prices and emphasizes proactive measures to avoid rapid escalation into crisis or unrest.

Recommended actions include a national resilience forum, a new UK shipping route to improve infrastructure, cash transfers to the poorest in emergencies, and greater dietary diversity to reduce vulnerability.

Analyst Prof. Sarah Bridle emphasizes that shocks can be anticipated and mitigated through preventative planning and coordinated action by government and industry.

They warn that shocks could trigger widespread food insecurity, malnutrition, panic buying, unsafe food practices, and even violence as trust in government erodes.

The analysis, published in Sustainability after consulting more than 30 experts, urges coordinated action by government and business to build resilience.

Experts outline concrete recommendations to identify systemic weaknesses, crisis triggers, and interventions to prevent worst-case scenarios and bolster resilience.

Officials frame food security as national security and pledge investments in climate-resilient crops, yield-enhancing technology, regulatory streamlining, and farmer support to protect the nation.

The analysis highlights risks from centralized global production, vulnerable supply-chain chokepoints (like the Suez Canal), and the digitization of food systems, which raise cybersecurity concerns.

Crises are about more than calories; they threaten dignity and trust, so responses must be co-designed with communities most affected to strengthen resilience.

Extreme weather is expected to worsen crop failures, disrupt workforces, raise prices, and cause shortages domestically and via international weather events.