Concerns of food supply disruption growing during plausible January blackout

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has asked figures in the food and drink industry for their views on how major power outages could affect food supplies in the UK stated recent reports, as concern grows over chances of energy crisis causing widespread disruption in the coming months.

According to a recent report by PoliticsHome, Defra has contacted industry groups asking to be briefed on how a temporary loss of power could impact food reaching supermarket shelves across the country.

The department has told industry figures that it considers a blackout to be a theoretical possibility, and has asked them to advise on what food supply chains would be most vulnerable in that scenario.  

“This is not something we expect to happen,” a government spokesperson told PoliticsHome. “The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, as demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 response, and we engage extensively with stakeholders across the whole food supply chain to ensure we are ready for all eventualities, even the ones we don’t expect to happen.  

“The UK’s secure and diverse energy supplies will ensure households, businesses and industry can be confident they can get the electricity and gas they need.”

The government is believed to be braced for possible disruption to energy supplies this winter, as well as soaring prices that could affect both households and industry.

Bloomberg reported last week that the government is preparing for several days of organised blackouts over the winter under its latest reasonable worst-case scenario, caused by a combination of cold weather gas shortages.

According to the report, there are four days in January when the government may have to activate emergency measures to conserve gas supplies, which could affect both households and energy-intensive industries.

Under the plans, below-average temperatures and reduced electricity imports from Norway could result in Britain needing to trigger emergency measures to conserve gas for four days. The issue is expected to be exacerbated by Norway’s recent announcement that the country plans to limit its energy exports to the UK and Europe this winter.