Growing demand for higher-quality food is set to create new opportunities for farmers as consumers place greater value on nutrition, protein and provenance.
A new Savills Spotlight on Food report says climate risk, changing policy and tighter margins are accelerating change across agriculture. It argues future profitability will depend less on producing greater volumes and more on supplying higher-quality food through resilient supply chains.
“The UK food system cannot rely on volume alone. Future resilience will depend on how well the sector adapts to climate risk, responds to changing consumer demand and builds stronger, more transparent supply chain relationships. In practical terms, that means a renewed focus on quality, nutritional value and provenance,” said Tim Frost, associate director in the food and farming team at Savills in Cambridge.
Consumer demand
The report suggests consumer preferences are moving away from ultra-processed foods. Mr Frost said “tomorrow’s table” would increasingly resemble diets from the 1940s, with greater emphasis on better ingredients and nutritional value.
“The food on tomorrow’s table may look less like the ultra-processed model that has dominated in recent decades, and more like a system built around better ingredients and long-term resilience.” He added: “As this trend develops, processors will need to engage with growers to demonstrate the integrity of their supply chain and ensure they deliver a quality product, not a fast one.”
Farm resilience
Savills says growers should review crop suitability, invest in irrigation and water infrastructure, and adopt production systems that improve long-term resilience.
“Better use of technology, regenerative farming practices and closer integration across supply chains – all are expected to play a central role in how the sector adapts,” said Mr Frost.
Supply partnerships
The report says the traditional commodity-led model is giving way to closer, vertically aligned relationships as economic, environmental and geopolitical pressures increase.
“While direct payments to producers were often modest, the value to farmers frequently comes through improved stability, reduced risk and access to support. Our research suggests that future success will depend not simply on yield, but on access to data, credible reporting and trusted partnerships across the supply chain.”