Michael Gove is expected become the first minister to employ a military planner amid fears a no-deal Brexit could result in food shortages, according to reports.
The planner, provided by the Ministry of Defence, could take up a role at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in January to help ensure rural communities do not run out of resources.
The appointment would form part of the government's contingency planning for a “worst case scenario” no-deal Brexit, codenamed Operation Yellowhammer, The Telegraph reported.
According to documents seen by the paper, the military planner’s job would be to assess alternative routes into Britain for food supplies should the one between Calais and Dover become severely disrupted.
It would also be to carry out preparatory work to ensure there are no food shortages in rural areas including assessing where food supplies can be stockpiled on Ministry of Defence land.
The worst-case scenario in Operation Yellowhammer reportedly assumes a “restricted diet” could be imposed on Brits.
Crops previously used as animal feed will be eaten by people causing a "dramatic reduction in livestock production".
It adds: "UK agriculture is also reliant on imported energy, fertiliser, seeds and machinery. If the scope for trade was ever completely removed, domestic agriculture itself would be deprived of essential inputs.
"We have not made an assessment of the potential of UK food production to feed the population if we did not have access to critical dependencies."
Mr Gove, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, is said to be considering the offer of support from the Ministry of Defence but is expected to accept.
A Whitehall source said: 'This is just sensible contingency planning for a worst-case scenario. It's unlikely to happen but it is responsible to prepare just in case.'
It comes after thousands of soldiers, sailors and air crew were put on standby to tackle Brexit chaos earlier this week.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he had not yet had a “formal request” for support in no-deal Brexit planning.
But he went on: “What we will do is have 3,500 service personnel held at readiness - including regulars and reserves - in order to support any government department on any contingencies they may need.”
