In an announcement coinciding with the fairness review into the fresh produce supply chain, the government said ‘controlled environment horticulture’ would be eligible for phase three of the IETF launching in January 2024.
A long-standing NFU lobbying ask, it means that glasshouses will be eligible for a higher tier of government support targeted at high energy use industries. Some £185 million is available under the third round.
You can find out more about the scheme at: GOV.UK | Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
However, poultry production, another energy intensive sector, has disappointingly not been included.
Businesses on a ‘knife edge’
NFU President Minette Batters said rising input costs over the past 18 months have left many businesses on a “knife edge” adding that the NFU has “repeatedly made the case that this is threatening the viability of many crops, including peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and those with long term storage such as apples and potatoes”.
Minette said she was pleased the government had responded to NFU calls to recognise energy intensive horticultural production within future energy price support measures following the Farm to Form Summit at Downing Street earlier in the year. “As we have stated many times, it is critical that all high energy crops are recognised within this announcement, including protected cropping and those with long term storage.”
The NFU President said the NFU would now seek “urgent clarification on the eligibility for horticulture businesses and the process by which they can register for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund”.
“The NFU remains extremely disappointed over the lack of support for poultry production – another sector that is energy intensive where ongoing, soaring production costs are putting producers under immense pressure.”
NFU President Minette Batters
Disappointment over lack of poultry support
Minette added: “The NFU remains extremely disappointed over the lack of support for poultry production – another sector that is energy intensive where ongoing, soaring production costs are putting producers under immense pressure.
“We call on government to do everything it can so that the poultry sector is able to continue producing quality, affordable eggs and poultry meat which we know is valued hugely by the public.”
The news follows repeated calls from the NFU for a review into energy support for businesses after it the government announced some of farming's most energy dependant sectors would not be eligible for additional support under the ETII (Energy and Trade Intensive Industries) scheme which identified a pre-defined selection of industries, including botanical gardens, as able to apply for energy relief support.
