Independent TD Mattie McGrath has said that Ireland is “already” experiencing food shortages due to the rising costs of fuel and farming equipment.
The comments were made this week during a press event about the ongoing energy crisis.
“There’s talk now of growing wheat, said McGrath.
“I’m a mixed farmer. We grow wheat and barley, me and my brothers. But the oil isn’t there. The equipment isn’t there. There’s a massive cost of the equipment now for setting and planting corn, and no fertiliser.”
He added: “I don’t know where Charlie McConologue came up with this idea of meeting the farming organisations today. Sure they can’t feed the animals. We’re going to have food shortages.”
One RTÉ reported asked him when these shortages might manifest.
“It’s there already,” McGrath replied.
“Products are missing off the shelves already. Hauliers can’t get drivers.”
He described the serious challenges facing pig farming industry.
“They [pig farmers] are missing 40% of their workforce because they went back home during the pandemic. They’re only killing at 60%. So there’s going to be an animal welfare crisis as well.
“It’s imminent. And our boys [the government] are in some kind of sleepy dream, as if they’re in a coma or something. I don’t know what’s going on.”
The war between Russia and Ukraine has threatened food security across Europe, with those countries exporting as much as 30% of global grain.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue is urging Irish farmers to plant more as fears of food shortages and price hikes begin to mount.