Associate professor of horticulture at University College Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, Owen Doyle, has said that the UK horticulture sector is facing the “Brexit bonuses” of low labour supply and high energy costs.
Speaking to Agriland, Doyle said the sector is struggling as a result, and farmers are finding it hard to stay in the industry.
“There are growers in England who have not planted at all this year. They have made the decision to not grow a crop because they cannot make the figures add up,” he said.
In comparison to Northern Ireland, Doyle said horticulture is on a much larger scale in England, Scotland and Wales, so costs are “far more significant”.
UK horticulture farmers are suffering “pretty severely” he said, in fruit productions, field vegetable production and glasshouse production.
“The biggest problem, over the last few years with the pandemic, is that the UK could certainly grow the crops, but there was nobody to harvest them,” Doyle said.
This problem, he said, is reflected in issues with food supply. Just yesterday, (Wednesday, February 21) Asda and Morrisons announced temporary limits on the amount of certain fruits and vegetables customers can buy.
Food inflation
In the past, Doyle said, the cost of food, for the majority of people, did not make up “significant percentages of their expenditure”, but now food prices are high and continuing to rise.
“Now the cost of food has gone up and will probably continue to go up until the energy prices relieve to some degree,” he said.
Chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Helen Dickinson said even a recent rise in consumer spending could not “keep up with the double-digit inflation rates”.
“With consumer confidence falling slightly, and high costs throughout the supply chain preventing prices from falling, it is a bumpy road for households.
“However, retailers are taking steps to cut costs and limit price rises where they can, to help their hard-pressed customers.”
