The Ulster Farmers' Union has called on the UK Chancellor to delay the application of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to fertiliser until a full impact assessment is done. The union warns that adding a carbon price to fertiliser imports will raise costs for farmers, who are already facing high input prices. It argues this could undermine food security and domestic production. The UFU points out that agricultural input costs are over 36% higher than in 2020, with fertiliser costs up 121.5%. It also highlights the uncertainty around CBAM rates and default emissions values. The union wants the government to retain the red diesel rebate and pause CBAM on fertiliser to avoid compounding cost pressures. The article is relevant for anyone tracking carbon border adjustments and their effects on agriculture. It shows the tension between climate policy and food security, a key debate in emissions policy.
