Farmers warn Ukraine war will hit UK food prices

British food prices will rise as a result of the war in Ukraine, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has warned.

Around 30% of the world’s wheat comes from Ukraine and Russia, and exports are halted during the conflict, sources say.

Also, the price of gas, which is used to heat greenhouses and make fertilizer, has skyrocketed.

The union has written to the government to demand urgent action to help UK farmers produce enough food to keep supermarkets stocked and affordable.

“The government must act now, with a clear signal that food security is a priority for the nation,” the NFU said.

Earlier this week, the head of one of the world’s largest fertilizer companies, Yara International, warned that the war in Ukraine will come as a shock to world food supplies and costs.

The Association of Wholesalers has also warned that rising fuel prices will mean people pay more for groceries in shops and restaurants.

NFU President Minette Batters told the BBC the rising costs of producing fruit, vegetables and meat could mean farmers produce less when the nation needs more.

“I think the whole world needs to realize that we’ve never seen anything like this before, we’re going to see wheat price inflation like we’ve never seen,” she said.

“The real danger is that farmers contract, decide not to invest, hold back on planting and we produce less food,” she said.

Ms Batters said the lack of crops would also affect meat production as farmers need it to feed their livestock.

The cost of producing a chicken is 50% higher than a year ago, but farmers bear much of that cost, she said.

Feed wheat prices in the UK are already up 39% on March 2021 to £279.40 per tonne, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).

Another factor affecting food production in the UK is that Ukrainian workers make up 60% of recruits under Britain’s seasonal worker scheme, the NFU said.

These workers perform essential tasks such as planting, picking, packaging and sorting fresh produce.

The NFU is asking the government to issue an additional 10,000 visas under the Seasonal Workers Scheme, in addition to the 30,000 already granted.

Dan Wallis, who runs Rookery Farms in Newbury, Berkshire, said he made the decision this week to sow spring wheat on land that was not due to be planted until next fall.

“Given the current crisis in Ukraine, the demand for food is constantly increasing,” he told the BBC.

“There will be shortages of wheat and barley, mainly wheat, so today we are planting spring wheat on fallow land that should remain fallow until next fall.

“I made the decision in the last week or 10 days – it’s the right thing to do.”