Neil Hudson has called for urgent action after a carbon dioxide plant has announced it is set to close.
The MP for Penrith and the Border is calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to urgently intervene to protect food security for Cumbrian and UK industries, after CF Industries said it would close its carbon dioxide and fertiliser production plant in Ince.
The farming industry and food and drink producers rely on carbon dioxide and there are fears the plant’s closure will hurt the rural economy.
Dr Hudson has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, urging him to act on the threat to food security.
He said he was also calling 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.
Dr Hudson said he wanted the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to set out how they will respond to the announcement by submitting parliamentary questions and 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 said: “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.”
