A new report has set out how the UK might respond to major disruptions to food supplies triggered by events such as war, extreme weather or cyber-attacks – and what can be done now to prevent such disruptions from escalating into a crisis.

Involving 39 experts from institutions including Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of York, the study maps how shocks to the food system, such as sudden price hikes or food shortages, could intensify pressure on already vulnerable parts of the system, ultimately increasing strain, instability and the risk of social unrest.

Chemicals brought in to help protect our ozone layer have had the unintended consequences of spreading vast quantities of a potentially toxic ‘forever chemical’ around the globe, a new study shows.