How is the war in Ukraine affecting British farming?
On the 24th February 2022, the Russian military launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine, bringing war to Europe. While the conflict is taking place more than 1,000 miles away from the UK’s shoreline, the impact is being felt much closer to home.
In our report, How is the war in Ukraine impacting British farming? we’re exploring the issues now facing our agricultural sector, and the solutions that exist to minimise their impact on our farms.
A war in the wake of a pandemic
As the world slowly started to emerge from the devastation of a global pandemic, few would have imagined that a war would be waged on European soil just months later. Yet that’s exactly what’s happened with global food security and food security severely shaken. A range of human, infrastructure and supply issues which have emerged as a result of the war are also challenging farmers in myriad ways.
In our war in Ukraine report, we examine some of the problems being faced by farmers as a consequence of the conflict:
Rising feed costs: Russia and Ukraine are the breadbasket of Europe but military action, embargos and destruction of infrastructure means grain production has been severely impacted. The lack of this vital ingredient is pushing up the price of animal feed.
Rising fertiliser costs: It is estimated that the cost of fertiliser has increased by 70% -140% since the war in Russia began in February.
Rising energy costs: Russia plays a vital role in the global energy supply chain, while much of Europe’s gas travels through Ukrainian pipelines, something which has pushed up prices and caused huge price volatility.
Labour shortages: Each year, Britain’s farmers rely on tens of thousands of seasonal workers from Ukraine, but due to the war, 12.8 million people have been displaced, meaning many roles remain unfilled, threatening productivity.
Understanding the wide-ranging impacts of war in Ukraine
Understanding the wide-ranging impacts of war in Ukraine
Rising costs, pressure to scale and a labour shortage can significantly impact the profitability and viability of the farm business, place livelihoods at risk and threaten animal welfare along with consumer access to food.
Concerns raised in our war in Ukraine report include:
- Soaring costs may make more farm businesses unviable and threaten animal welfare
- A labour shortage reduces productivity and could pose a risk to biosecurity
- Lower productivity increases the risk of food shortages and increasing costs to consumers
- External pressure to rapidly scale domestic supply may result in biosecurity gaps is
In our report, we’re taking a much closer look at the unseen consequences to British agriculture, and what impact a war hundreds of miles away may have on the nation’s farmers.
Mitigating against the risks
While price increases across the board, coupled with labour shortages represent a monumental challenge for farm businesses, farmers don’t have to simply accept the status quo. Download how is the war in Ukraine affecting British farming? for a global overview of the problem at hand, along with industry-leading solutions designed by Livetec’s experienced team.
In this report, we explore the value of tailored solutions including:
Reduced fertiliser costs
- Reduced fertiliser costs
- Access to government grants via the Sustainable Farming Incentive
- The installation of energy-efficient technology to reduce reliance on gas
- Measures to reduce food wastage
- A renewed focus on biosecurity
To find out more about the measures you can take to protect your business and mitigate against increasing costs and labour shortages, download our report now.