UK reliance on EU food imports is a major risk if the country crashes out of the union. / Walk into any British supermarket and you will be surrounded by European products, from Italian cheeses to French wines. Around 30% of all food consumed in the UK is imported from the EU, but for some foods, such as spinach and olives, the EU is practically the UK’s sole supplier.

It has been another gloomy week on the sunlit uplands of sovereign Britain, as a senior minister accused the EU of seeking “petty revenge” – and then hinted that the government might ban imports of European mineral water and seed potatoes.

The potential threats of Brexit to Scottish farmers continue to 'vastly outweigh' the potential opportunities, NFU Scotland has warned one year on from UK withdrawal.

Scottish farmers say a post-Brexit ban on exporting seed potatoes to the EU is facing them with a ‘huge financial hit’. / The UK Government’s being urged to strike a deal with Brussels to resume trade – which has also restricted business with Northern Ireland.

Although we have left the EU, there are still many issues to be resolved. One of the biggest dangers is that if the NI Protocol breaks so will the UK-EU trade deal.

Why are there not enough people? What has suddenly happened that South Holland’s farmers cannot get the harvest in?

Fast-food chain KFC and German potato farmers face interruptions to normal service after a shortage of lorry drivers.

Gordon MP Richard Thomson has urged Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack to intervene on his Cabinet colleagues to force a change in the UK Government’s post-Brexit policies which he outlines are causing issues for food and drink sectors.

The area of seed potato crops for certification in Ireland increased to 299 hectares in 2021, helping to fill a gap left by a Brexit ban on imports from non-EU countries.

Currently, seed potato exports from Scotland to the EU are not permitted due to the 2020 Brexit agreement failing to agree safety regulations for the product.

The ending of high-grade seed imports from Britain as a result of Brexit provides a real opportunity for the revival of domestic seed production, Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue told the Senate.

This note summarises the evidence so far of the impacts on Brexit on Scotland. It sets out early evidence related to areas such as trade, the workforce and EU programmes.

A THIRD of Scotland’s largest brassica crop has been left to rot in the field because Brexit ended access for seasonal pickers.

"For anyone who has worked in purchasing for some time, this is as significant and widespread a challenge as we’ve seen."

Plant supply has been tough, while Glendoick's field-grown ericaceous plant exports have been hamstrung by post-Brexit rules not allowing plants with soil on them to go to EU countries. However, Northern Ireland is back in the market after Westminster decided to break EU rules and allow exports.

Farmers have warned they face increasing pressure from restrictions imposed by Brexit on trade of seed potatoes.

The NFU has said everything must to be done to avoid a no deal Brexit, and the catastrophic impact this could have on British farming.

Potato industry says it will take years to fill gap in Irish potato seed market following ban on UK seed.

NFU Scotland has told the government to prioritise the paperwork and physical inspections associated with agri-food trade to the EU that has resulted in delay and losses.

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has urged UK Government to involve Scottish agriculture and Scottish Government on trade decisions affecting the sector.

Confusion over ability to sell to Northern Ireland after 31 December hits farmers hard.

Before Brexit, 77,000 tonnes of seed potato left our shores – with 20,000 of those tonnes heading to European nations. Seed potatoes from the UK are no longer allowed into the EU, and that is hitting Scottish businesses hard.

Both Teagasc and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue are confirming that Brexit will impact negatively on the quantities of seed potato that Irish growers can import from the UK.