Fears over carbon dioxide supply for farming

With government aid to CF fertilisers nearly over and gas prices even higher than when they shut down, farmers and politicians are asking for long term answers.

And over the weekend, Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary, Mairi Gougeon, called for an urgent meeting with her UK Government counterpart to discuss the implications for carbon dioxide supplies for the food and drink sector.

Stating that no information had been forthcoming on contingency plans, Gougeon said that carbon dioxide played a key role in the economy and failure to secure adequate supplies would have a significant impact on the agriculture sector, along with wider food and drink manufacturing as well as the hospitality industry.

She said that a failure to meaningfully address the crisis was unacceptable:

“I am also concerned that, even if CO2 supplies are secured, increased costs will be incurred which will be passed on to other parts of the supply chain at a time when it is vulnerable to price fluctuations.

She said that businesses couldn’t afford to absorb additional costs, and shouldn’t have to, claiming the crisis was entirely UK made:

“So I am calling on the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, to get round the table with all the Cabinet Secretaries from the devolved nations.

“He needs to outline the UK Government’s plans to save Scotland and the UK’s food and drink industry from further harm, particularly to secure alternative CO2 supplies. Most importantly, he needs to come up with a plan to support businesses through this crisis.”