Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with food producers on potential food shortages in the context of the drought in Spain.

Defra has well established ways of working with the industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.

In February, some supermarkets applied item limits to a small number of fruit and vegetables due to poor weather affecting the harvest in Spain and North Africa. Supply is now at a manageable level due to improvements in supply from these regions, imports from the Netherlands and produce from domestic harvests becoming available.

We are aware that parts of Spain are facing drought conditions.  However, our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources; strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. We produce 61% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year, and these figures have changed little over the last 20 years.

Defra is closely monitoring markets and supply chains to explore the factors that have contributed to ongoing supply chain pressures and is considering how government and industry can work together to mitigate them, in the short and longer term.

For example, I met with major retailers on 27 February to discuss supply issues, their procurement contracts with growers and how to work together to find solutions.

In addition, on 3 March, I also visited Thanet Earth to discuss the opportunities and challenges for growers within the horticulture sector. Defra has been engaging with primary producers and trade associations such as the British Growers Association, to assess potential risks to the supply of fruit and vegetables.