Trump deals double blow to the great British pint
politico.eu • • world
Key Points:
- Britain faces potential carbon dioxide (CO2) shortages affecting beer production and food processing due to supply pressures exacerbated by the Iran conflict and rising energy costs.
- A 2023 UK-US trade deal led to the closure of key domestic bioethanol plants, such as Vivergo and Ensus, which are important CO2 sources, increasing the UK's vulnerability to supply disruptions.
- The UK government intervened with a £100 million package to restart the Ensus bioethanol plant, which is now fully operational, aiming to secure CO2 supplies critical for food and beverage industries.
- Farmers and meat processors express concern over CO2 shortages impacting livestock processing and animal welfare, urging prioritization of the meat sector in contingency plans.
- Experts criticize the UK government for not learning from previous CO2 supply crises linked to energy shortages and fertilizer plant closures, highlighting ongoing risks to domestic manufacturing resilience.
