Britain’s farmers are sounding the warning, saying huge price hikes in products they use have left them in a dire situation, and could precipitate a food supply crisis which will spread across the nation, according to a new report from the National Farmer’s Union.
The report notes that the prices of fertilizer, feed, fuel, and energy have all skyrocketed since the onset of military action in Ukraine, as well as in part due to the supply chain snafus of the Covid period. They note fertilizer prices are more than three times what they cost in 2019, as gas prices have gone up six-fold.
The union is warning that the current shortage of eggs could spread to other food classes, as farmers are forced to cut back production due to expenses. Energy-intensive crops especially, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and pears, are all on track for their lowest yields since record-keeping began in 1985, due to farmers abandoning production amid unaffordable costs.
The report also noted that the country has seen roughly 7,000 agricultural businesses go out of business since 2019.
NFU president Minette Batters said to reporters, “The danger is that we produce less and less of our food here, and we become ever more reliant on imports.”
Additionally, labor shortages have further reduced productivity, with an estimated £60 million (over $72 million) worth of food having gone to waste due to a lack of workers to harvest, process, and transport it.
The NFU noted the government needs to provide urgent support to farmers, as well as allow an additional 15,000 seasonal workers enter the country from abroad to help pick crops.
The Daily Financial Trends
