London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Aug 08, 2026

Scottish farmers warn of rising costs and food shortages

Scottish farmers warn of rising costs and food shortages

Scotland's farmers are warning they are facing a "perfect storm" made worse by the war in Ukraine.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) Scotland said rising fuel costs and grain shortages could mean prices going up and goods becoming scarce.

The Scottish government is calling for a summit of ministers from across the UK to discuss the problems now facing farmers, fishermen and food producers.

The UK environment secretary said he would consider the request.

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy told BBC Scotland the impact of Russia's invasion, after a two-year period which brought Brexit and the Covid pandemic, was "absolutely devastating".

He added: "I have not seen anything like this before. It is completely unprecedented.

"The long-term implications of that is going to have a serious impact right across the food supply chain."

"We have heard the term before about a 'perfect storm', but I have never seen anything like this before."

NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said the current situation for farmers is unprecedented


Mr Kennedy said the pig sector is under threat due to the rising cost of feed and warned imminent intervention was needed to ensure pork remains on shop shelves.

There have also reports in recent weeks of soaring costs making it unviable for some fishing vessels to leave port, and the food processing and storage sectors also being hit hard with rising overheads.

The removal of tax relief for red diesel has also also caused price increases.

To illustrate the challenges facing the sector, Mr Kennedy said he paid £240 for a tonne of fertiliser last year, but this year the price has soared to about £800.

Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary has called for an urgent four-nations summit to consider how to respond to "hardship" in the food sector linked to the Ukraine crisis.

Mairi Gougeon said Russia's invasion has had a "significant impact" on the UK's food supply chain.

She has written to her UK counterpart, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary George Eustice, to highlight her concerns.

'Fighting for support'


Ms Gougeon said ministers in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had previously pledged to have "regular discussions" with the devolved governments on the issue.

But she claimed there had been "no opportunity for discussions with UK Government".

Ms Gougeon told Mr Eustice: "I am concerned that this lack of engagement will only lead again to suffering by Scottish businesses who were left fighting for support to continue to deliver exports following the Brexit deal."

Defra confirmed that the environment secretary had received the letter and said he would "respond in due course".

An event to support Ukraine was held in Glasgow on Saturday


Meanwhile, a rally has been held in Glasgow's George Square to highlight the plight of the Ukrainian people.

Organiser Kasia Tym said the event had been supported by everyone from bakers to t-shirt makers. She told BBC Scotland the aim as to keep the crisis in the public eye.

Ms Tym said: "I think there is an aspect of trending news. There is a shock factor that applies for ten days max and then it kind of dies down.

"For us it is very important to keep the conversation going because the war is still happening.

"It is still as violent as it started and the people need even more help now because resources are running out."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Australian Crew Evacuates Seriously Ill American From Antarctica in Midwinter Darkness
Trump’s Top General Seeks an Exit Strategy From Iran War, Report Says
Brock Lesnar Retires From Wrestling, Closing a Career of Rare Athletic Range and Lasting Controversy
Trump-Era Policy Shifts Test the Boundaries of U.S. Institutions
UK Drought Cuts Harvests and Raises Food-Security Fears
UFO: Pentagon Releases Video of Unidentified Object Tracked Over Middle East
US Health Secretary: “I’m Not Afraid of Germs — I Used to Snort Cocaine Off Toilet Seats”
Ukraine Tells Senate Republicans Its Drone War Offers a Blueprint for America
Weight-Loss Drug Boom Tests the Limits of Prescription Advertising Rules
Trump Keeps Hegseth at Pentagon While Leaving Door Open for DeSantis
UK Clears Paramount’s Warner Bros. Discovery Deal, but US Trial Looms
UK Prosecutors Add 38 Charges Against Andrew and Tristan Tate
Taiwan’s President Joins Wartime Command Drill as China Pressure Grows
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Mutual-Defence Pact
Government Orders Review of Prison Release Rules After Concerns Over Grooming Gang Offenders
Rail Disruption Continues Across North-West England Amid Infrastructure Problems and Engineering Closures
UK Tax Authority Proposes Broad Changes to Rules Governing Company Distributions
UK Government Moves to Protect Standing Areas Outside Pubs From Local Restrictions
Extreme Right-Wing Referrals Under UK Prevent Programme Rise 42 Percent
EU Citizens in UK Warned That Some Residency Rights May Have Been Granted in Error
Every Monitored Body of Water in England Fails Chemical Purity Standards, Government Data Shows
UK Scientists Create First Artificial Intelligence-Designed Viruses
England Orders Primary Schools to Identify Children at Risk of Becoming Disengaged From Education or Work
Government Moves to Close Prison Release Loophole Amid Concern Over Grooming Gang Offenders
UK Economy Shows Modest Growth Despite Energy Volatility and Global Supply Pressures
Police and Prosecutors Failed to Stop Sex Offender Who Later Murdered Two Women, Review Finds
Millions in England Face Longer Mental Health Waiting Times as NHS Providers Cut Spending
Met Office Warns of Heatwave as Temperatures Across England and Wales Could Reach 36 Degrees Celsius
HMRC’s 2029 Tax Shift Could Overlap Old and New Self-Assessment Bills
Thetford Disorder Prompts Expanded Police Powers Amid Asylum-Housing Protests
Cambridge Faces Calls for Independent Review of Jason Arday Appointment
Scotland’s ‘Cock of the North’ Woodland Is Being Felled After Wind Damage
Reform UK and Greens Unite Against Vast Solar Plans for Kent Marshland
New Zealand Draws Wealthy Americans With Revamped Investor Visa
Senate Panel Votes to Hold Anthony Fauci in Contempt After Fifth Amendment Testimony
Cambridge Professor Jason Arday Resigns as University Opens Inquiry Into His Credentials
Manchester Power Failure Disrupts Trains Across North West Into Friday
UK Fashion and Tourism Sectors Prepare for Strong Summer and Autumn Activity
London Residents Seek Appeal Against Approval for Chinese Super-Embassy Development
UK Environment Officials Issue Biosecurity Alert Over Rising Bluetongue Cases in Livestock
UK Charity Regulator Opens Investigations Into Donations Linked to Israeli Settlements
Gatwick Expansion and Chinese Embassy Plans Highlight Growing UK Infrastructure Disputes
UK Agriculture Authorities Warn of Rising Bluetongue Virus Cases Among Sheep Farms
UK Watchdog Finds Electronic Monitoring Failures Leaving Some Offenders Without Timely Alerts
Metropolitan Police Investigate Covent Garden Knife Attack That Injured Four Men
UK Government Confirms Severe Terror Threat Level as Prevent Programme Expands
Diageo Plans Guinness Expansion While Cutting Jobs Through Global Restructuring Programme
Bank of England Keeps UK Borrowing Costs Stable While Markets Await Future Rate Cuts
Gatwick Airport Wins Approval for Second Runway Expansion After Legal Challenges Fail
Apple Challenges UK Government Over Demand for Access to Encrypted iCloud Data
×