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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) farmers in relation to increased costs deriving from the Iran war, and (2) the long-term financial sustainability of farm businesses.

Defra is actively monitoring developments in the Middle East and the impacts on food and farming sectors. Measures have been taken to improve market transparency, promote advice, tools and guidance, and we have consulted on temporary suspension of tariffs for certain fertilisers and modernisation of fertiliser regulations.

The ongoing pressure on fertiliser underlines the need to shift to a more resilient farming system with reduced reliance on such inputs. In England, the Farming Roadmap shows how improving nutrient management and input efficiency will help farmers to reduce reliance on artificial fertilisers, cut input costs and boost resilience.