The Worcestershire branch of the National Farmers Union has warned that a 'perfect storm' of labour shortages and halted CO2 production could lead to imminent food shortages across the county.

Prices could also be set to skyrocket as the CO2 crisis has compounded the existing supply chain issues faced by the British food market.

Emma Hamer, NFU Worcestershire county adviser, said: "The fertiliser and CO2 shortages, coupled with widespread labour shortages, have created a perfect storm.

"If these issues are not urgently solved, we could see a situation where there are fewer food choices on Worcestershire’s supermarket shelves and higher food prices as a result of the widespread challenges throughout the supply chain.

"This issue highlights the vulnerability of UK food security and the need for all government departments to recognise and value British food and farming.

"We are hopeful this is resolved before we get to that point."

American owned CF Industries recently shut two UK sites that produce 60% of the country's commercial carbon dioxide supplies because of a sharp rise in gas prices, subsequently causing huge shortages of the of CO2.

Earlier this week it was confirmed that the government had agreed to provide short-term financial support to CF Industries - believed to be tens of millions of pounds - to help keep supply lines running smoothly.

CO2 is commonly used to stun animals for slaughter, while it is also essential for the safe packaging of many food products, especially in the meat industry.

Restaurants and supermarkets have already suffered long periods of bare shelves and reduced menus as suppliers continue to struggle to find workers post Brexit.

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has claimed that workers from places like the Philippines are ready and willing to travel to the UK to work in the food sector, but cannot gain access under the post-Brexit immigration system.

The DUP Minister said: "I have been saying that this needs to happen within weeks a change of policy and I think it’s now getting to the point where it needs to happen within days."

"Because right across the United Kingdom there is a shortage of workers in the food supply industry that really needs to change.

"It’s going to take a number of weeks to get those people in from the Philippines and elsewhere to do the job. They are available. We need to get that food from the field on to people’s plates.

"We could be in the bizarre situation of having food shortages on our shelves and healthy animals in our own country slaughtered on farms and not used for food production. That would just be a ridiculous situation that we were trying to import food from other parts of the world at a higher cost because we’ve got a labour shortage issue here in the United Kingdom.

"It’s not a direct result of Brexit, it’s a result of Government policy after Brexit and Government have the ability to very quickly amend that policy to ensure that we don’t have that situation develop."

Last week, the NFU joined farmers, the public, politicians, and many others for Back British Farming Day. 

On the day, a new NFU report, which asks for Government to complete a comprehensive report on UK food security later this year, covering the country’s production of key foods and its contribution to global food security, was launched.

Robert Newbery, NFU West Midlands regional director, said: "I think it is vital that the support and commitment shown by our politicians continues after Back British Farming Day and the union will continue to champion members’ businesses in Worcestershire and beyond.

"Delivering a comprehensive report into food security and taking appropriate action in response would show Government is serious and ambitious about boosting sustainable food production in Britain.

"This would not only help reduce the UK’s reliance on imports, which often fall below our own high standards of production, but also enable Worcestershire farmers and growers to build the British brand overseas through trade."