The loss to the world's supply of wheat is being felt by one of the main producers of Waterford's floury blaa.

Dermot Walsh from Walsh's Bakehouse, which employs 25 people in Waterford City, says Ukraine and Russia supply 30 percent of wheat globally.

He was a guest on Déise Today with Damien Tiernan earlier.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, wheat from both Ukraine and Russia has not been exported, impacting the cost of producing flour here.  Dermot explained to Damien that the cost per metric tonne of wheat available to Europe has gone from €187 in 2021, to €406 now, more than doubling.

Dermot said this increase in the price of wheat means that the cost of flour has now gone up by over 70%, or by about €350 a tonne, "on an average week we'd get through ten to 12 tonnes of flour, so you're talking about on average €4,000 a week, which is €200,000 a year, and that's just flour" Dermot said.

He added that the majority of fertiliser used on the wheat is coming from Russia, which is causing a "double whammy" of shortages.

Have a listen to Dermot Walsh's full conversation with Damien through the link in this podcast.

For all Déise podcasts, click here.