US-Iran war will cause spike in food prices, NFU chief warns

"The crisis in the Middle East will cause the largest spike in food prices since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the boss of a major farming union has warned. Meanwhile, fruit and vegetable producers have warned that the UK may see empty supermarket shelves if nothing is done to support the sector amid escalating turbulence."

"Tom Bradshaw, the chairman of the National Farmers' Union, told The Times that the US-Iran conflict had triggered an inflationary wave that is likely to peak in the autumn. However, he said food inflation is unlikely to surpass the 19.1 per cent rise in the year to March 2023, the year after the Ukraine war began."

"The union boss also warned that profiteering by fuel and fertiliser suppliers may also be worsening inflation. Speaking after a meeting with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to discuss the UK's food resilience last week, Mr Bradshaw added concerns about the situation."

The National Farmers' Union chairman warns that the US-Iran conflict will cause substantial food price inflation, potentially peaking in autumn. While expected to remain below the 19.1 percent rise following Ukraine's invasion, the crisis threatens UK food security. Fruit and vegetable producers caution that empty supermarket shelves are possible without adequate sector support. Profiteering by fuel and fertiliser suppliers may exacerbate inflationary pressures. These concerns emerged following discussions with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding the UK's food resilience.

Read at www.independent.co.uk