Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 April 2026
Correspondence from the Secretary of State regarding the implications of the Iran conflict on UK food security and rural communities, dated 1 April 2026
Summary
Secretary of State Emma Reynolds responds to parliamentary questions about Iran conflict impacts on UK food security and rural communities. She confirms elevated fertiliser and red diesel costs but states the UK's resilient food system is not facing direct supply disruptions. The government is monitoring prices, supporting low-income households through existing programmes, and leveraging competition and regulatory oversight to prevent temporary cost shocks embedding in long-term prices.
Key findings
- Fertiliser prices globally up 30–40% due to Middle East conflict; UK imports some nitrogen from Egypt and significant phosphatic/potassic supplies from Israel, but UK supply chains not heavily dependent on direct Middle East imports.
- Red diesel prices have risen approximately 75% above pre-crisis levels, significantly affecting farmers' and fishers' input costs; fuel supply itself is secure with 90% of crude oil imported from long-standing partners (US 30%, Norway 27%).
- UK produces 65% of food consumed; Middle East is not a significant import source or primary shipping corridor, so no direct physical disruption to food supply expected despite broader shipping market pressures.
- Government supporting low-income households through minimum wage rises, free school meals expansion, energy price cap cut of £117 from 1 April, and £53 million emergency support for off-grid heating oil customers.
- Mechanisms to prevent price embedding include Groceries Code Adjudicator oversight, Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator enforcement in milk and pigs sectors, CMA competition investigations, and direct engagement with retailers and manufacturers.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Emma Reynolds (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Alistair Carmichael MP (Chair, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee), Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA), Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Groceries Code Adjudicator, Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), UK retailers and food manufacturers
Notable line
“Red diesel is available, but we are aware prices have risen close to 75% above pre ‑ crisis levels, which is affecting farmers' and fishers' overall input costs .”
Key Quotes
“The United Kingdom is not heavily dependent on direct nitrogen fertiliser imports from the Middle East, but like other countries we are exposed to global benchmark prices and international competition.”
“Recent market volatility has seen US dollar global benchmark nitrogen fertiliser prices increase by 30-40%, reflecting global conditions rather than any immediate disruption in the UK.”
“The Middle East is not a significant source of UK imports, nor a primary shipping corridor to the UK agri-food supply chain. This means any disruption in the region is not expected to directly affect physical flow of food into the UK.”
“At present, there are no significant impacts to the supply of food to consumers, and we do not expect any short-term disruption.”
“Nearly 1 in 3 homes in majority rural constituencies in England are off the gas grid, and more likely to be reliant on fuels such as heating oil for domestic heating; we understand the disproportionate impact on these households of increases in oil prices.”
“We have committed to a record £11.8 billion farming budget in this spending review period.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗