Extra land needs to be made accessible for meals manufacturing contemplating the unsure affect on meals provide the conflict in Ukraine will trigger, NFU Scotland says.
The union has written to the Scottish authorities calling for a moratorium on assist scheme guidelines that take land out of meals manufacturing.
It warned that the aftershocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could be felt “nicely past the battle”.
Considerations over future provides have seen wheat futures hit a 14-year excessive and the wheat market has jumped greater than 40% within the final week.
Domestically, farmers are being quoted wheat costs of greater than £310 per tonne.
NFU Scotland, in its letter to the Scottish authorities, mentioned the significance of Ukraine when it comes to agriculture and meals manufacturing was turning into clearer.
With world provide chains already extremely weak, and lots of nations reliant on Ukraine’s produce in addition to Russia’s meals, fertiliser and gasoline provides, an increase in grain costs or a major drop in manufacturing was “sure to have large knock-on results for meals customers in addition to meals producers”.
To assist enhance the resilience of meals provides, NFU Scotland mentioned extra land in Scotland needs to be made accessible for home meals manufacturing.
It mentioned a moratorium on present Scottish assist scheme guidelines that take land out of manufacturing may briefly launch an space of land equal to 25,000 rugby pitches to develop cereals, crops reminiscent of peas and beans or grass and forage for livestock.
NFU Scotland’s President, Martin Kennedy mentioned: “The human value of the invasion inside Ukraine is already tragic, however the opportunity of different potential impacts as a result of nation’s significance to the worldwide agriculture market will be neither understated nor ignored.
“We’re in very difficult and extraordinary occasions and Scotland’s farmers wish to play their half in any nationwide or European effort that appears to deal with the rising issues round future meals safety.”
Mr Kennedy warned, nevertheless, that the largest stumbling block dealing with Scottish farmers was the rocketing value and availability of inputs.
Fertiliser and gasoline costs have greater than doubled up to now 12 months to report ranges, turning crop manufacturing plans the wrong way up.
He mentioned: “The actions of Russia and the counteractions of wide-ranging sanctions and restrictions signify an additional main concern due to the impact on oil, gasoline and fertiliser availability.
“Inevitable provide disruption will stretch availability of the inputs wanted to develop crops to breaking level, not to mention affordability.”
