The Chilly Chain Federation has right this moment issued an pressing open letter to Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister of State for Meals Safety and Rural Affairs, calling for fast motion to determine a strong meals and pharmaceutical resilience plan for the UK. The Federation highlights essential vulnerabilities within the nation’s provide chains, exacerbated by world points and the continued local weather disaster.
The letter stresses that over 50% of all meals consumed within the UK is chilled or frozen, making the chilly chain’s infrastructure—comprising roughly 450 temperature-controlled warehouses and 100,000 temperature-controlled automobiles—essential nationwide infrastructure. Moreover, practically 50% of the UK’s meals is imported, underscoring the reliance on a resilient chilly chain for nationwide safety and public well being.
Phil Pluck, CEO of the Chilly Chain Federation, said: “Our sector is the spine of the UK’s meals and pharmaceutical provide, but we lack a coherent nationwide resilience plan. The teachings from the Covid-19 pandemic, the place our employees bravely stored the nation provided, should not be forgotten. We’d like fast recognition of the chilly chain as Important Nationwide Infrastructure to correctly safeguard the UK towards future crises.
The Federation’s letter outlines a number of urgent points and pressures:
- Meals Insecurity: Citing a current report by Professor Tim Lang for the Nationwide Preparedness Fee, the Chilly Chain Federation warns that the UK has no plan to feed its residents throughout a disaster, probably resulting in civil unrest inside days if meals provides are compromised.
- International Meals Provides: Elevated commerce restrictions, geopolitical unrest, and local weather incidents are creating unprecedented uncertainty in world perishable items motion, making UK meals imports and exports extremely susceptible.
- Local weather Results: Declining UK meals productiveness because of local weather change necessitates a stronger give attention to perishable items storage. Moreover, local weather change poses a menace to temperature-controlled amenities by means of compromised grid provides and strain on refrigeration programs,
- Power Grid Provides: Chilly shops are energy-intensive, working at temperatures as little as -25°C for meals and -80°C for essential vaccines. The shortage of prioritisation for chilly shops throughout vitality blackouts poses a extreme threat, as chilled and frozen merchandise can spoil inside hours. Whereas the business is investing in renewable vitality, grid connection points hinder additional progress.
- Cyber Crime: As seen with current incidents affecting main retailers, stay a rising menace that might compromise nationwide meals and pharma provide if essential firms are concurrently focused.
The Chilly Chain Federation is looking on the federal government to:
- Designate the chilly chain as Important Nationwide Infrastructure (CNI): This might allow nearer collaboration to guard nationwide resilience.
- Embody the Chilly Chain Federation on the Meals and Drink Sector Council: The Federation’s experience in sustainability, internet zero developments, and meals provide resilience is essential for the Council’s work streams
- Present cross-departmental recognition: The Federation seeks a ministerial portfolio throughout the Cupboard Workplace to recognise the cross-departmental nature of the chilly chain
- Help sooner adoption of unbiased renewable vitality sources: With out looking for authorities funding, the Federation requests assist in pressuring grid operators to resolve connection points that hinder funding in self-sufficient renewable installations
The Chilly Chain Federation emphasised that it’s not looking for authorities funding however quite a collaborative partnership to safeguard the UK’s important provide chains. The organisation is able to work with the federal government to quickly develop and implement a viable meals and pharmaceutical resilience plan.
