Food & Drink

As the UK marks its first tumultuous year outside of the EU, Farmers Guide reflects on the current situation – the outstanding threats, opportunities and what the future may hold for British farmers as a result.

A coalition of leading food and farming businesses is warning that the UK faces a deepening food supply chain crisis unless the government takes urgent and meaningful action to fix the structural issues facing the industry.

Food prices will remain high in 2022 as adverse weather, inflation along supply chains and logistical strains stay likely to continue, according to Rabobank’s annual Agri Commodity Markets Outlook report.

Following subdued seasonal celebrations last year due to Covid, AHDB insight analysts have taken a look at what this year’s festivities could mean for red meat and dairy, how Yuletide food will be impacted by supply issues and whether 2020 trends will remain.

Pumpkins might still be seen as a quintessentially American crop, but the last 30 years have seen their slow, steady rise in the UK arable sector. This rise has led to a now booming industry providing diverse income for farms across the UK.

Critics have noted that there are few specific measures to help farmers in the Chancellor’s latest budget, however some announcements could offer a boost to certain sectors. Farmers Guide took a look at the key points…

Following the recent launch of the Trade and Agriculture Commission, NFU president Minette Batters expressed “frustration” that the government has failed to move on from “warm words” to “practical and deliverable measures” in safeguarding the UK’s high standards.

The UK’s farming, food and drink industries have been under threat following the recent CO2 supply shortage.

Over a quarter of all meals eaten at home in Britain are consumed for health reasons – with the market worth an estimated £26.5 billion, growing eight per cent year-on-year.

Defra has unveiled new plans to enable the use of gene editing technologies, to help farmers grow crops that are more nutritious, productive and resistant to pests and disease.

A new report has highlighted the importance of communicating the health benefits, flavour and versatility of red meat and dairy – as figures show consumers are increasingly health-focused.

For the first time since 1989 the US may allow the importation of British Lamb. Following comments from Boris Johnson, UK farming bodies have reacted to the news.