Realistic pricing needed throughout the food chain says David Stacey
After a year of volatile market shifts affecting so much of the food chain, a more realistic approach to the value of food is needed, according to David Stacey, Chairman of the Agricultural Industries Confederation's fertiliser executive.
Speaking at the Confederation's annual fertiliser dinner, held at the Institute of Directors, Mr Stacey highlighted the 'disconnect' that the farming industry has suffered as produce and land prices have risen and fallen.
"The fertiliser industry has been affected by global forces that have not only seen prices rise, but also seen the UK having to fight for its share of supplies," said Mr Stacey.
"With prices of raw and finished product changing between every boat load it has been a difficult year for everyone along the supply chain."
However, higher prices have led to some benefits for both the fertiliser industry and the broader agricultural community. With fertiliser products worth so much more, farmers are more interested in improving the efficiency and precision of fertiliser use and taking account of other crop nutrients such as organic manures.
"Efficient use ensures minimal environmental impact," said Mr Stacey. "It has also brought renewed interest in the skills that FACTS-qualified advisers bring to improving on-farm fertiliser utilisation. Higher prices also mean that farmers are more concerned about on-farm security, which ties in with the progress that has been made with the Fertiliser Industry Assurance Scheme (FIAS) that has focused on delivering security in the manufacture and distribution of fertilisers.
"More broadly, agriculture has to play its part in addressing climate change. As a major consumer of energy the fertiliser manufacturing industry has a leading role in the drive to reduce harmful emissions. However, it is essential that the approach taken by the European Emission Trading Scheme is a balanced one.
"We are lobbying to make sure European plants are not only the most efficient in the world environmentally but that western European manufacturers are also able to continue to produce fertiliser economically. The alternative is that manufacturing is driven outside Europe to places where the environmental impact is likely to be significantly worse."
Notes for editors
David Stacey is Commercial Director of GrowHow UK.
Further information
Eileen Pullinger, Agricultural Industries Confederation
01733 385240
eileen.pullinger@agindustries.org.uk
Issued by
Geoff Dodgson, Chamberlain
01223 884600
geoff.dodgson@chamberlain.uk.com
m: 07710 379561
