EXCLUSIVE: Brits may have to bid farewell to their fry-up favourite, thanks to the ongoing fighting in the Middle East. Pig farmers are facing the crunch and it could spell the death of the humble bacon sarnie
The Great British bacon sarnie could be no more – and it’s all because of the war in Iran. Experts say that pig farming is in chaos in the UK thanks to the imminent threat of World War 3.
They are warning that you may need to order your fry up sooner rather than later, before it leaves our tables for good.
Farmers say they are feeling the pinch at swine hubs across the country and are not sure how much longer they can survive. This is mainly due to sharply rising energy prices, with the Middle East the source of a large proportion of the world’s oil.
As well as energy prices rising, it is harder to get hold of fuel. Around 20% of the global supply of oil and liquid natural gas, and also about 10% of all diesel, currently passes through the Strait of Hormuz between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, which is currently deemed unsafe to travel through.
Travel through the Strait has become a safety risk and many ship captains are now choosing not to pass, waiting for things to calm down. Prices for crude oil, petrol and diesel are all soaring as a result of the ongoing conflict.
Pig farmer Steve Mansell, who runs Marsh Farm in Birdham, Sussex, said: “All of this will affect the livestock industries anywhere on the planet.
“And we are no different. We are finding it harder and harder as each day goes on to survive.
“Things will only get worse as the months go on. I would not be surprised to find the pig farming industry starting to be decimated in this country, and probably sooner than we think.
“It is a really worrying time to be a farmer.”
And experts say that other farming markets, such as poultry, will also be hit hard.
Rabobank analyst Nan-Dirk Mulder said we import a lot of poultry from the Middle East, including Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey – so your shopping could soon be affected.
He said: “Despite representing only 8% of global market size and almost 15% of global trade, the region accounts for nearly 10% of global production growth, supported by population growth, rising chicken consumption, and food security programmes. The outbreak of the Iran war has disrupted supply chains, trade flows, and input availability, pressuring import markets, especially highly dependent ones.”
If the war persists, and transport costs continue to rise, he said “it is expected that in the long run, feed prices will rise as well” for animals.
The war will also see the price of fertilisers soar, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz affects global nitrogen and phosphate markets.
“We will have to see how it all plays out,” Mr Mansell added. “But people should know, this war is set to affect their food tables and how their meals look, very soon.”