Poultry Growth Plan Risks UK National Security, Campaigners Warn 2026

The government's poultry sector growth plan is a risk to UK national security, campaigners have warned. Environment secretary Emma Reynolds has promoted homegrown produce to boost food security, but critics argue that intensive poultry farming is unsustainable and polluting.

Why the Poultry Sector Growth Plan Faces Criticism

Ruth Westcott of Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, called the plan a threat to UK food security. She stated that intensive poultry farming is resource-intensive, polluting, and inefficient. The plan aims to ease planning constraints for livestock farms, despite concerns over water pollution and air quality.

National Security Concerns

Maya Pardo from Communities Against Factory Farming (CAFF) highlighted that the government's own national security assessment warns that current animal farming levels are unsustainable without imported soy from South America, which destroys the Amazon rainforest. This dependency undermines true food security.

Key Takeaways

• The poultry growth plan may increase reliance on imported soy feed.
• Intensive farming raises pollution and deforestation risks.
• Campaigners urge focus on pulses, legumes, nuts, and beans as homegrown protein sources.
• Planning rule changes could bypass local opposition and environmental safeguards.

FAQ

The debate over the poultry sector growth plan highlights a critical tension between short-term production goals and long-term national security. As the government moves forward, balancing agricultural growth with environmental and security risks will be essential.