Organisation type
Charity/third sector
Public sector
Sector
Cities and communities
Consumer protection
Environment and sustainability
Food and nutrition
Infrastructure
Science, technology and innovation
Service
The National Preparedness Commission (NPC) asked Barley to launch its landmark report on the UK’s food resilience, authored by Professor Tim Lang. Just in Case: 7 steps to narrow the UK civil food resilience gap examines public readiness, vulnerabilities in the food system and how crises could limit access to food. The report issued a stark warning: the UK’s food security is fragile, and current government, industry and civil-society planning is insufficient. NPC Chair Lord Toby Harris tasked Barley with developing a targeted media strategy, drafting a hard-hitting release and securing coverage to influence policymakers and food-sector leaders.
Barley worked closely with the NPC and the report’s authors to distil clear, compelling messages that would attract media interest while avoiding alarmist or sensational framing. Our focus was to communicate the seriousness of the UK’s food-security challenge in a credible, policy-relevant way.
Given the report’s call for stronger food policy and improved government planning, we targeted a mix of food, science and farming trade titles, alongside national social-affairs, policy and environment correspondents to reach policymakers and industry leaders.
To maximise impact, we set an embargo for the morning of publication and began outreach to priority journalists and broadcasters well ahead of launch. This enabled us to secure pre-recorded interviews for release on launch day, including Farming Today, as well as longer-lead programmes such as The Food Programme. We also anchored our pitch to current debates on proposed US trade tariffs, ensuring timely relevance and strengthening the news hook.
As a result, we secured high-quality interviews for Professor Tim Lang with leading journalists, including the Guardian’s Environment correspondent, Financial Times’ Public Policy Correspondent and The Grocer’s International Trade Editor, positioning the report at the centre of national and sector-specific conversations on food resilience.
The report generated strong national and sector media impact. Its findings were covered by The Guardian and highlighted in Politico’s London Playbook. It led BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today, which ran an in-depth interview with Professor Tim Lang. Barley also secured an interview with Lord Ed Davey on Times Radio and a full BBC Radio 4 Food Programme dedicated to food preparedness, featuring both Sir Toby Harris and Tim—directly reaching core policymaker audiences.
Extensive trade coverage across food, retail, supply chain, farming and agriculture titles ensured the report reached senior industry figures. Advance briefings with the National Farmers’ Union generated additional attention, supported by comments from the NFU President.
The report also gained significant traction on X (Twitter), including engagement from influential farmer and commentator James Rebanks. Monthly title BBC Science Focus further amplified the findings in a wider feature on national preparedness.
pieces of national coverage
interviews – including BBC Radio 4, Times Radio, Financial Times, The Grocer, The Guardian
opportunities to see
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