Currently, France imports 20% of its food, a figure that has doubled since 2000, with fruits, vegetables, fish, and shellfish being the most imported products.
In France, key imports of consumer-oriented products from outside the EU include oilseeds, fruits, and distilled spirits, while EU imports primarily consist of meat, dairy, and vegetables. Notably, French imports from the United States reached $1.04 billion, driven by tree nuts, alcoholic beverages, and seafood.
The volume of imports is driven by the level of domestic production, market conditions such as the price, existing stock levels, and customer demand. Due to environmental and climate conditions, the UK is consistently reliant on imports to meet demand for some arable crops.
France is stepping up by mandating that supermarkets give their unsold food to the needy. It's a simple yet profound solution to one of the world's most significant problems—food waste. With millions of tons of food wasted each year, this initiative could serve as a model for the rest of the world.
In 1984, the UK's overall food sufficiency was 78%. In 2021, it was 60%. Today, the nation is only 18% self-sufficient in fruit, 55% in vegetables and 71% in potatoes.
The idea of labelling not for EU on food throughout the UK Nations was proposed by the UK government to help make it easier to produce one label for all of the UK (Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland) and to ensure the feeling of the unity of NI within the rest of the UK.
Throughout the 18th century, France faced a mounting economic crisis. A rapidly growing population had outpaced the food supply. A severe winter in 1788 resulted in famine and widespread starvation in the countryside. Rising prices in Paris brought bread riots.
What is France's main economic sector? The main economic sector in France is the services sector, which accounts for about two-thirds of GDP. This includes activities such as retail, tourism, financial services, and government spending. However, industry also plays an important role in the economy.
Guyana is the only country that is self-sufficient in all seven food groups, fruit, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat, legumes nuts and seeds and starchy staples. China and Vietnam attain six. Only one in seven countries, most within Europe and South America, achieve self-sufficiency in five or more food groups.
Two-thirds of production is devoted to livestock, the other to arable crops. The main crops that are grown are wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, sugar beets. England retains a significant and large fishing industry. Its fleets bring home fish of every kind, ranging from sole to herring.
The French are well known for their love and appreciation of good food. They are also committed to not wasting it, making the waste of food illegal in France.
Spain has the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid; France has a staircase with nine rules (9 repères); Sweden has the Food Circle (Matcirkeln) accompanied by an ideal diet for men and women. The Swedish guidelines also have more detailed advice on quantities people should eat, depending on gender and activity levels.
The French Senate recently approved the 2025 budget, which includes a new “unproductive wealth” tax. This proposed tax would target a range of crypto assets and apply annually to unrealized gains.
At the moment Britain imports nearly 40 per cent of its food, most of its energy and nearly all of its fibre. In years to come we might have to become more self-sufficient. If so, it would not be for the first time. Many people alive today remember the last time the UK had to resort to home production.
According to Spain's Ministry of Agriculture,7 the country's cereal trade deficit (i.e. exports minus imports) amounted to 13.6 billion tonnes in the 2021-2022 season, while its degree of self-sufficiency (ratio between domestic production and consumption) was 64%, lower than the 68% of the previous season.
Why does the UK import so much food instead of growing it here?
The UK's climate limits the domestic production of a range of fruits and vegetables making imports necessary to ensure year-round availability of the widest range of products. Consumers also play a part in driving imports.
