DEFRA has produced two reports to examine the effects of natural disasters on the UK food supply chain and the following contingency plans.

These reports were produced by the department's Food Chain Emergency Planning Group and assisted by the Food Storage and Distribution Federation, reports Logistics Manager.

Each report analyses extreme weather in the UK and its impact on food chain stakeholders.

The report from the East Coast Ports and Food Supply focuses on the potential problems and outcomes that are resultant of the UK's bad weather. It also looks at the methods needed to ensure that the food supply is strong enough to withstand the 'potential of an east coast tidal surge'.

The second report, entitled Extreme weather and resilience in the food chain, researches into whether the UK's food supply can bounce back from 'volatile weather events'.