{"id":801125,"date":"2026-03-03T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/801125\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T12:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T12:00:13","slug":"brexit-led-to-many-short-term-challenges-for-uk-food-sector-industry-leader","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/801125\/","title":{"rendered":"Brexit led to \u2018many short-term challenges\u2019 for UK food sector \u2013 industry leader"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sofina Foods\u2019 chief executive, Ash Amirahmadi, has indicated that Brexit has created many short-term challenges for the UK food sector.\n<\/p>\n

However, the jury remains out regarding the long-term consequences of the UK\u2019s exit from the EU.\n<\/p>\n

Amirahmadi made these assertions while giving the 2026 Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture. The event was held recently at Queen\u2019s University Belfast.\n<\/p>\n

The main theme addressed by the Sofina Foods representative reflected his conviction of the need for national food security to become an imperative political priority in the UK.\n<\/p>\n

He also wants to see the footprint of the food industry expanded to include more women, more people with neurodivergent backgrounds, and a greater participation of people from urban areas.\n<\/p>\n

Significantly, Amirahmadi recognises Northern Ireland as a powerhouse of farming and food production.\n<\/p>\n

Future trends<\/p>\n

Looking to the future, he believes that international consumer demand for nutrient dense foods, including all forms of animal protein will increase significantly.<\/p>\n

In part, this trend will be driven by the increasing use of new obesity treatments<\/a>, the use of which will require complimentary nutritional programmes, specifically designed to manage muscle mass.\n<\/p>\n

Amirahmadi said: \u201cIn the modern food and farming industry, constant innovation will be required.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\"Flooded<\/a><\/p>\n

According to the Sofina Foods CEO: \u201cIt\u2019s hard not to conclude that climate change is now a reality.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hottest day in Northern Ireland was recorded within the last five years. And 2025 marked the hottest summer ever recorded across the UK as a whole.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cMeanwhile, recent weeks have seen record levels of rainfall that has created flooding and other challenges in so many areas.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLooking ahead, there is every prospect of these extreme weather events becoming more common, affecting how and when we can produce food.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Amirahmadi added that geopolitical events \u201cwill also have a major impact on our farming and food sectors\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, Russia\u2019s 2022 invasion of the Ukraine created a major spike in food prices and the costs associated with the production of food,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIn tandem with this, the rise in protectionism, where international trade patterns are concerned, puts a greater emphasis on the issue of national food security.\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cAnd above all, politics has become more polarised. The breakdown in the consensus previously arrived at on the issue of securing a net zero position for the UK is a case in point.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of this was predictable. However, a lot if it wasn\u2019t.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

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