A new policy paper, due to be produced soon by the Co-operative Party, suggests that a shift towards collaborative farming models could significantly improve resilience.
Co-operatives can enable farmers to pool resources, share risks and invest collectively — a structure that can reduce exposure to volatile input markets such as fertiliser, fuel and animal feed. The UK already has around 526 agricultural co-operatives generating more than £9 billion in income, yet the report points to significant untapped potential for expansion.
Also significantly, co-operatives are seen as a mechanism for building shorter, more resilient supply chains while retaining more value within rural economies.
The findings land at a time of growing concern over the UK’s reliance on imports, with food system resilience increasingly framed as a national priority.