SCOTTISH Rural Affairs and Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon has written to the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, George Eustice, calling for an urgent four-nation summit to discuss the impact of the Ukrainian crisis on the food supply chain in the UK – and to discuss possible options for support.

Having set up the Food Security and Supply Taskforce for Scotland, Ms. Gougeon has offered to share its findings with the UK Government and other Devolved Administrations to monitor, identify and respond to any potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from the impact of the war in Ukraine.

Ms Gougeon told Mr Eustice that the matter was serious enough to require weekly update meetings, and expressed her disappointment that Defra had so far ignored requests to engage with the Devolved Administrations on what could be done to maintain UK food security.

Read more: Scottish food security taskforce set up

"It is clear that the sharp rise in fuel price is contributing to the hardship being felt by our own food production sector," wrote Ms Gougeon. "We have reports of these costs making it unviable for some fishing vessels to leave port, pig production costs becoming untenable, the food processing and storage sectors being hit hard with the general rise in primary product cost and the removal of tax relief for red diesel causing price increases beyond the levels of the limited fuel rebate.

"I am concerned that this lack of engagement will only lead again to suffering by Scottish businesses who were left fighting for support to continue to deliver exports following the Brexit deal.

"At this time of global uncertainty when we must have food security, I have set up together with Scottish industry, a Food Security and Supply Taskforce to monitor, identify and respond to any potential disruption to the food and drink supply chain resulting from the impact of the war in Ukraine.

"I would like to propose an urgent four-nation summit to discuss the significant impact of this, and possible options for support. I look forward to hearing from you on this matter," she concluded.