The UK's ability to produce a resilient, secure supply of fruit and vegetables is at a critical crossroads. With rising import dependence and growing exposure to climate and geopolitical shocks, protected horticulture — particularly modern, high-tech greenhouse production — offers a proven route to strengthening national food security.
The Chartered Institute of Horticulture has signed an open letter calling for joined-up government action, including strategic planning for greenhouse expansion, fair cost-sharing across the supply chain, integration with energy and climate policy, and closer collaboration with growers and sector leaders. The letter is published below.
An open letter to the UK Government
"The UK is at a crossroads in its ability to grow a resilient food system. With rising import dependence and increasing vulnerability to climate change and geopolitical shocks, our domestic fruit and vegetable supply remains exposed to disruption, which represents one-third of the total recommended daily food intake (DEFRA, 2024; Public Health England, 2016). Expanding protected horticulture, particularly high-tech greenhouse production, offers a route to greater national food security, but this expansion must be strategic, equitable and underpinned by coordinated policy support (Batke et al., 2025). To achieve this expansion, we call for the following:
1: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, UK government) and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in partnership with Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and local authorities, to establish national planning strategies for greenhouse expansion, underpinned by spatial analysis and co-location with energy infrastructure.
2. Defra, His Majesty's (HM) Treasury and the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) to lead frameworks to deliver joint responsibility for Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX), with costs shared across government, retailers, and private investors.
3. Integrating greenhouse horticulture into national energy and climate planning and formally recognise greenhouses as low-carbon infrastructure through coordination between Defra, DESNZ, MHCLG, Ofgem and local councils.
4. The support of local councils to enable co-location of greenhouses with renewables, district heating and waste-heat recovery through spatial planning and local development frameworks.
5. DEFRA, MHCLG and Natural England, together with devolved administrations, to balance food security with conservation and land-use priorities in policy. Glasshouse development needs to complement existing agriculture and biodiversity goals, not compete with it.
6. Supermarkets to co-invest in long-term supply chain resilience and adopt fairer contracts, supported by government co-investment schemes, enhanced oversight by the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and incentives for supporting UK production.
To be effective, these actions must be developed in close partnership with grower organisations and sector leaders such as the British Tomato Growers, NFU, British Growers, the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium, UK Agritech Centre, East Malling Trust and others, ensuring that policy aligns with the realities of production on the ground.
Meeting UK demand through protected cropping will require careful, evidence-based expansion (Moons et al., 2022; Tong et al., 2024). Land suitability, biodiversity and resource efficiency must guide development, with co-location alongside renewable energy, district heating and waste-heat recovery turning greenhouses into an asset for both food and climate resilience (Rezaei et al., 2024).
To unlock this potential, government must move beyond piecemeal support and work with industry to create a joined-up strategy that de-risks investment, shares costs fairly and embeds protected horticulture in national planning. Growers cannot carry the burden alone.
Protected cropping is not the only solution, but it is one of the most effective tools to strengthen food security. The UK is already lagging behind other countries in investment, technology and policy support for modern horticulture, and cannot afford to fall further behind (Batke, 2025). Now is the time for decisive action: Through strategic planning, shared responsibility and genuine partnership with grower organisations, the UK can build a modern, resilient horticultural sector that delivers affordable, nutritious food while safeguarding land, energy and resources for generations to come."
For more information:
Chartered Institute of Horticulture
Email: [email protected]
horticulture.org.uk/
