UK's food security 'held hostage by geopolitics' with Strait of Hormuz blockade

Around a third of the world’s most widely used nitrogen fertiliser is exported from Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently being blockaded by Iran.

There seems to be little prospect of the vital shipping lane opening any time soon, with Donald Trump issuing a “shoot to kill” order on Iranian boats.

British farmers, who are already operating in a difficult economic environment, now face much higher input costs on red diesel, gas and fertiliser at the start of the growing season.

Campaign movement Save Soil has called for more Government support for the transition to regenerative farming practices, which will reduce the reliance on fertiliser from abroad.

As well as the environmental benefits, it says that there is an economic and national security argument for improving soil health.

A farming system that produces natural nitrogen from healthy soil, the campaigners say would be insulated from global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical instability, like the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

Praveena Sridhar, chief technical officer of the Save Soil movement, explained: “The UK’s food security cannot keep being held hostage to geopolitical events thousands of miles away.

“Every time there is a conflict in the World, British farmers face a fertiliser crisis, which results in higher food bills for British families.

“This is a pattern we can break, but only if we invest now in farming systems that do not depend on imported chemical inputs.”

Save Soil is calling on the Government to accelerate and expand subsidy support for the transition to regenerative farming through the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

It also wants a long-term national soil health strategy that treats restoration as a food security priority, not only an environmental one.

John Waldgate, CEO of the British Growers Association, explained that even before the Iran crisis broke out, most growers in the UK were battling with razor thin margins”.

“Now, fuel costs are up, fertiliser costs are up. At this rate, it’s simply not feasible to invest in the UK’s growers as costs, regulations and even yields remain so uncertain,” he said.

“It doesn’t help when farmers have to jump through so many regulatory hoops to even get a reservoir built.

“Farmers are not looking for handouts. They just want the government to get out of their way, so that they can get on with the business of feeding the nation.”

The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been convening meetings with major farming groups, including the National Farmers’ Union.

Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “I have raised industry concerns about prices of fertiliser and red diesel, including price transparency, with the Competitions and Market Authority CEO Sarah Cardell.

“I will also be asking the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to report back on fertiliser and red diesel supply and use across agricultural sectors, and to consider what they can do to publish more reference data to support greater market transparency for farmers and growers.

“We are committed to ensuring that these markets function fairly and we stand ready to act swiftly and appropriately to support our domestic farming industry and food security.”