Written question asked by Gareth Davies (Conservative) on Monday, 18 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 May 2026. It was answered by Angela Eagle (Labour) on Wednesday, 27 May 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fertilisers: Imports

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the proportion of UK nitrogen fertiliser requirements that are currently met by domestic production, and what steps her Department is taking to reduce import dependency.

Answer: Supply of nitrogen fertiliser to the UK is competitive and the proportion that is met by domestic production varies from year to year. Current fertiliser regulations are outdated and don’t support the marketing of new and innovative products. We are consulting on new regulations to strengthen future fertiliser supply, protect the environment, and diversify supply for farmers. Defra has also committed £120 million in funding in 2026 to trial new technologies and drive innovation in the agriculture sector including for efficient nutrient management.

Secondary information