ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of Britain in order to assess the validity of its approach and considers whether, a minimum level of national self-sufficiency in food should be regarded as an essential element of a sustainable farming and food strategy. It focuses on the provision of food at a national level, although self-sufficiency could also be considered at a European, bioregional, local or household level. The chapter explores historical trends and variation in levels of self-sufficiency for different types of food. Recent farming and food policy in Britain has been shaped to a large degree by the government-commissioned Curry Report, a key recommendation of which proposed localisation of food chains. The chapter adopts a different approach and explores the links between self-sufficiency and sustainable development. The prospect of food production in Britain being increased in order to achieve greater self-sufficiency raises questions concerning land use priorities.
