Urgent action is required to address vulnerabilities and shield the UK’s food supply chain from cyber attacks, a new commission of experts have warned.
The Food Resilience Commission, chaired by former Food Security and Rural Affairs Minister Daniel Zeichner MP, held its first session in Parliament earlier this week (April 29), assessing how rising cyber threats across the food supply chain are already disrupting operations and pose a growing risk to UK food security.
As part of the discussions, the Commission heard first-hand accounts of how cyber incidents are exposing vulnerabilities across the food supply chain and having a detrimental impact on UK business operations.
A number of central themes emerged from the session, most notably the need for greater decentralisation of systems and operations to reduce single points of failure, alongside improved information sharing and stronger cross-sector cooperation to enhance preparedness and promote best practice.
The Commission also discussed the knock-on effects that cyber incidents can have across interconnected parts of the supply chain, reinforcing the importance of coordinated action between industry and government to enhance national food resilience.
Over the coming months, the Commission will continue to hold a series of evidence-gathering roundtable discussions on critical national infrastructure and sustainability. The Commission will then be presenting final recommendations to the UK Government in the latter half of 2026.
Chair of the Food Resilience Commission, Daniel Zeichner MP said: “I am delighted to have chaired the Commission’s first session today on the topic of cyber crime. This is a rising and prevalent issue being felt by businesses right across the food supply chain and I’m pleased that we have been able to bring together a group of experts to debate some of the ongoing issues so that we can ultimately better advise the Government and protect our food system.”
James Bielby, CEO, FWD, said: “Cyber crime is a very real and prominent issue for wholesalers and the wider ecosystem that underpins the food supply chain. Today’s discussion was a great opportunity to talk through some of the risks associated with cyber crime and the practical steps wholesalers can take to ensure operations are not disrupted.
"Our members are a fundamental part of the UK’s food system, and as we look to build a more resilient food system, I look forward to FWD playing a central role in the essential work of the Commission.”