Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has said that escalating global instability highlights the urgent need for the United Kingdom to prioritise national food security and protect domestic agriculture.
Commenting on the continuing war in Ukraine and the growing instability in the Middle East, the MP warned that geopolitical conflict is increasingly exposing the fragility of global food supply chains.
“Events across the world are once again reminding us that we cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to food security,” said Ms Lockhart.
“The war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for four years, has already demonstrated how conflict in one region can send shockwaves through global grain markets, driving up costs for farmers and food prices for families in the UK.
“With tensions escalating for a second week in the Middle East, and shipping routes under pressure, there are fresh concerns about fuel and fertiliser supplies, with agricultural input costs almost doubling for some essential commodities.”
Carla Lockhart said the UK’s reliance on imported food and inputs makes the country particularly vulnerable to external factors. “The Labour Government needs a reality check – it’s time for the message to finally sink in – food security is national security!
“For far too long we have taken for granted that global supply chains will always deliver. But the fact is that when conflict erupts, when shipping routes are disrupted, or when energy prices spike, the consequences are quickly felt by farmers and consumers alike.
“The United Kingdom currently imports a significant proportion of the food we consume. That leaves us exposed in an increasingly uncertain world.”
The DUP agriculture spokesperson said the current geopolitical climate should act as a wake-up call for policymakers.
“We must recognise that maintaining a strong domestic farming sector is not simply about supporting rural communities – it is about empowering farmers and safeguarding the nation’s resilience,” she added.
“Farmers across Northern Ireland and Great Britain produce high-quality food to world-leading standards. They are a strategic national asset, and they must be supported rather than undermined.”
Ms Lockhart called on the Government to place food production at the heart of its national strategy.
“That means ensuring farming remains sustainable and economically viable. We must, protect our producers from unfair competition through trade deals, and strengthen the resilience of our food supply chains.
“In an uncertain world, the ability to feed our own people is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity.”
Ms Lockhart added: “If recent global events have taught us anything, it is that a nation that cannot feed itself leaves its security in the hands of others. That is why strengthening domestic agriculture and national food resilience must now be treated as a strategic priority.”
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