The Government’s new energy strategy has done little to ease the squeeze on UK agriculture and food security, according to the NFU.
Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: “This strategy was a chance to align long-term net zero policy with immediate solutions to the energy crisis, but it does little to alleviate the pressures spiralling energy costs are placing on UK food production now, nor on the many businesses and households facing eye-watering gas and electricity prices.
“This is a time when we need to be producing more to bolster UK food security, yet energy costs and availability issues have caused areas of UK food production to contract and fertiliser prices to rocket, with prices now 250% higher than this time last year.
“In order to give farmers the confidence to continue to produce food at scale, we need to see policies which reflect the importance of gas and electricity for food production. We also need immediate measures to boost energy efficiency and fast-track renewables like solar and on-shore wind power, which farmers are well placed to help deliver.
“It is time our government recognised what the whole UK food supply chain has been saying for months – that food security needs to be a priority so we can continue to produce nutritious, affordable food for the country, especially during times of global unrest.”
The NFU had already identified many measures which, if they were included in the strategy, could help UK farmers continue to produce food at scale, including:
- Boosting energy efficiency with the consistent backing of HM Treasury – including processes, resource efficiency and buildings.
- Fast-tracking of on-site renewables like solar and onshore wind power – through revised planning guidance and more resources for local planners.
- Better regulation that enables efficient return of agricultural nutrients to land – through investment in slurry storage, composting and anaerobic digesters.
- Kick-starting the UK market for green hydrogen from renewables – this could partly replace fossil natural gas in the network.
