Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Correspondence from the Secretary of State following the evidence session on 21 April in relation to the Food supply chain fairness and resilience inquiry, dated 20 May 2026
Summary
Secretary of State Emma Reynolds responds to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's follow-up queries from April evidence sessions on food supply chain fairness and resilience, following the Iran conflict. The letter outlines government contingency measures including CO2 plant reopening, fertiliser price monitoring, £11.8bn sustainable farming investment, CBAM implementation, and engagement with industry on supply chain resilience across energy, ammonia production, fuel access, and food security.
Key findings
- Government has reopened the Ensus CO2 production plant and is working with farmers on fertiliser efficiency tools, with plans to reform fertiliser regulations to support British farming.
- The UK is investing £11.8bn this Parliament in sustainable farming and domestic food production, including £2bn annually by 2028/29 and a 150% increase in Environmental Land Management scheme funding.
- Fertiliser price transparency has been improved through AHDB publishing weekly rather than monthly prices; a government survey is underway to assess impacts on farmers and land managers.
- The government remains committed to implementing CBAM from 1 January 2027, expects initial fertiliser liabilities to be modest, and is monitoring the situation closely.
- The UK produces approximately 65% of the food it consumes; the Middle East is not a major source of UK food imports, and no consumer supply impacts are expected, though energy-intensive sectors (horticulture, cold storage, food processing) face highest exposure to Middle East conflict shocks.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emma Reynolds MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Competition and Market Authority, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), CF Fertilisers UK, Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI)
Notable line
“The UK typically imports nitrogenous fertilizer products from more than 40 countries and has a number of port facilities that enable imports and a more limited number …”
Key Quotes
“The government has already implemented a number of contingency measures or taken supportive action following the onset of the Iran conflict”
“… sector by investing £11.8bn this Parliament to support sustainable farming and domestic food production. Page 2 of 5 This includes £2bn a year by 2028/29 and a 150% increase in funding for Environmental Land Management schemes.”
“We have improved price transparency for fertiliser by asking Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to publish fertiliser prices weekly rather than monthly”
“… disruption, producing around 65% of all the food we eat. We are taking the potential impacts of the Middle East conflict on our food and farming sectors seriously and working closely …”
“Financing domestic ammonia production and its conversion into nitrogen fertiliser would not necessarily improve affordability for UK farmers and restarting previously closed or mothballed ammonia and fertiliser facilities would be costly.”
“The Middle East is not a major source of food imports for the UK. Alternative supply routes for specific goods are available, and we do not expect any impact on availability for consumers.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗