Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border has called on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urgently intervene to protect food security for Cumbrian and UK industries, following today’s announcement CF Industries’ carbon dioxide and fertiliser production plant in Ince will close.
Responding to the news, Dr Hudson has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, urging him to act on this threat to food security on behalf of the Cumbrian industries that rely on carbon dioxide, including in the production of food and drink, and in its use in abattoirs. Dr Hudson likewise called for urgent action on the risk to fertiliser supply, to ensure that the rising fertiliser costs and supply issues faced by farmers in Cumbria and the UK are not worsened by this development.
Further to corresponding with the Minister, Dr Hudson has required the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to set out how they will respond to the announcement by submitting parliamentary questions.
In addition Dr Hudson has brought this emergency topic to be discussed at the next Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee meeting, of which Dr Hudson is a member.
Dr Hudson commented: “Amid what is already a difficult time for Cumbrian and UK industries, given the existing threats to food security from the war in Ukraine and labour shortages in our food production sectors, this announcement is of extreme concern. In the wake of this announced closure of one of the UK’s fertiliser and carbon dioxide production plants, our farmers and food and drinks sectors are going to need urgent support from the Government to ensure sufficient carbon dioxide and fertiliser supply. I will not stop banging the drum for Cumbrian and UK industries, in my role as MP for a huge farming area and as a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, to secure the intervention they need.”
