Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
Recipe for Disaster

  How climate change threatens
   British-grown fruit and veg
Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
The Climate Coalition

          This report marks the launch of The Climate Coalition’s annual
          Show The Love campaign which aims to raise awareness of
          climate change and all it threatens, and encourage people to
                    show their support for action to address it.
                                                                                                      Acknowledgements
          The Climate Coalition is the UK’s largest group of people
                                                                                                Editorial and production team
          dedicated to action on climate change and limiting its impact
          on the people, places, and life we love at home in the UK and
                                                                                          Tom Levitt, Clara Goldsmith, Jenny Wilson,
          around the world, including the world’s poorest countries. The
                                                                                              Jessica Marsh, Rebecca Hawkins
          coalition is made up of over 130 organisations with a combined
          supporter base of 15 million, including WWF, National Trust,
                                                                                              Scientific contributors and advisors
          RSPB, Christian Aid, CAFOD, The Women’s Institute, and Oxfam.
          Together we want a future where the UK no longer contributes
                                                                                     Professor Piers Forster and Kate Sambrook, Priestley
                        to climate change, within a generation.
                                                                                               International Centre for Climate
                       Find out more at showthelove.org.uk
                                                                                                           Thanks to

                                                                                Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, David Drew MP, Hugh Fearnley-
                                                                                Whittingstall, Raymond Blanc, Roger Hobson, Tim Benton, Matt
                                                                                Smee, Tom Whitley, Lee Abbey, Thomasina Miers, Piers Forster,
                                                                                Kate Sambrook, Nicola Cannon, Jack Ward, Minette Batters, Guy
                                                                                Smith, Ceris Jones, Chris Daking, Barbara Bray, Mark Bowyer,
                     Priestley International Centre for Climate
                                                                                Ali Capper, Rob Clayton, Nicola Dunn, Cedric Porter, Cameron
                                                                                Roucher, Richard Thompson, Jonathan Scurlock, Tristram
          Providing research to underpin robust and timely climate
                                                                                Stuart, Joanna Vierod, Guy Watson, Tom Hunt, Kath Dalmeny,
          solutions is the USP of the Priestley International Centre for
                                                                                Carina Millstone, Caroline Drummond, Sarah Wakefield, Mike
          Climate. The University of Leeds centre is unique in bringing
                                                                                Childs, Angela Terry, Peter Chalkley, Liam Finn, Tom Stuart, Sean
          together world leading expertise in all the key strands of climate
                                                                                Mallon, Bronwen Smith-Thomas, Simon Billing, Andrew Child,
                                change research.
                                                                                Lucy Bjorck, Robin Willoughby, Ed King, Martin Lines, Cheryl
                                                                                Nicholson, Sophie Page, Melanie Coath, Leo Barasi, Rebecca
          One of the University’s flagship strategic investments, the
                                                                                Sharkey, Neil Thorns, Stephen Whitfield, Sam Hall, Jess Upton,
          Priestley Centre aims to provide international solutions to the
                                                                                                   David Warrilow, Iain Gale.
          global challenge of climate change through new interdisciplinary
          research partnerships that better link our physical, technological,
          economic, and social understanding of climate change with
                      strategies for mitigation and adaptation.

                        Find out more at climate.leeds.ac.uk

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
02.                                             26.

          Acknowledgements                                Why climate extremes could wipe out
                                                          growers: a view from Dr Nicola Cannon,
                                                          from the Royal Agricultural University
          05.

          Foreword and introductions                      27.
          05.   Foreword by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
          07.   David Drew MP                             The climate change risks facing UK fruit
          08.   Rt Hon Michael Gove MP                    and vegetables
          09.   Introduction by Raymond Blanc OBE
                                                          33.   Heatwaves and drought
                                                          38.   Pests, diseases and weeds
                                                          39.   Extreme weather events
                                                          43.   Case study: potatoes
          11.                                             48.   Case study: wine

          Summary

                                                          49.

          15.                                             Saving British-grown fruit and vegetables:
                                                          what can we do?
          Our love of British-grown fruits and            49.   Reducing emissions
          vegetables                                      51.   Cutting food waste
                                                          58.   Adaptation
                                                          62.   Buying local, seasonal food
                                                          62.   Eating more fruit and vegetables
                                                          61.   Case study: How supermarkets are safe
          17.                                                   guarding British-grown fruit and
                                                                vegetables, a view from Sarah Wakefield,
          The what, how and where of UK fruit and               food sustainability manager, Co-op
          vegetable production

                                                          67.
          19.
                                                          Conclusion: our call for action
          Climate change and the UK: a view from
          Kate Sambrook and Piers Forster, from
          the Priestley International Centre for
          Climate                                         69.
          22. Heatwaves
          23. Rainfall
                                                          References

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
Foreword
—Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

I am utterly convinced that eating more veg      your bit. If you prioritise organic produce
and fruit is the best way to boost our own       and limit your consumption of animal
health and that of our environment. And          foods, you’re doing even more.
thanks to the hard work and ingenuity of
British farmers, even at this dark and chilly    Farmers and food retailers have a major part
time of year, we can all still load up our       to play too, of course, and there are some
plates with fantastic home-grown produce         brilliant examples in this report of some
—from earthy roots and sweet squashes, to        of them doing just that, working to ensure
crisp apples and lush, tasty greens. Seasonal    that the food we eat is grown and brought
British produce never fails to please and it’s   to our plates in the most sustainable way.
a simple matter to roast, blitz, spice, sauce    Some are cutting carbon emissions; others
or soup these superb ingredients into            are promoting local and seasonal produce,
delicious dishes.                                or helping to cut food waste by selling
                                                 so-called ‘wonky’ vegetables that would
But this ever-changing seasonal bounty is        otherwise be dumped. We must support
under threat from climate change. As this        them.
timely report from The Climate Coalition
shows, UK farmers are already struggling         But climate change has to be tackled at the
to cope with the increasing frequency of         very top. If we are to protect our fantastic
extreme and unpredictable weather, with          British fruit and veg for future generations,
late frosts, droughts and heavy rainfall         then the food industry and our Government
having a serious—sometimes devastating—          have got to step up and make the kind
impact on crops.                                 of major changes—reducing emissions,
                                                 cutting waste, supporting green energy, for
How do we address this alarming situation?       example —that will have a profound effect.
The answer is we have to do all we can to        This is how we’ll ensure that the delicious,
limit climate change. As luck would have it,     healthy, homegrown produce we enjoy
that is a built-in consequence of sustainable,   today is still available for our children and
ethical eating anyway. If you shop locally       grandchildren. The alternative doesn’t bear
and eat seasonally you are already doing         thinking about.

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
“Last year’s drought is indicative of the impact of climate change. Farming can only be made sustainable
if we prioritise improving soil qualities, water management, and encourage pollinators.

—David Drew MP, Shadow Minister, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

                                                                       I commend The Climate               in the Agriculture Bill to
                                                                       Coalition for highlighting the      reward farmers who reduce
                                                                       impacts of climate change on        their emissions and adapt to
                                                                       our world-leading horticultural     the effects of climate change
                                                                       sector. High-quality, locally-      through our new Environmental
                                                                       grown fruit and veg are a crucial   Land Management scheme. We
                                                                       component of British diets.         are also taking steps to end the
                                                                       Yet, as we saw with last year’s     environmental, economic and
                                                                       drought, this nutritious food,      moral scandal of food waste
                                                                       and the livelihoods of the hard-    through our Resources and
                                                                       working farmers who grow it,        Waste Strategy.
                                                                       are increasingly threatened
                                                                       by more extreme weather and         — Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
                                                                       increased pests and diseases as
                                                                                                           Secretary of State for Environment,
                                                                       a result of climate change.         Food and Rural Affairs

                                                                       This Government is committed
                                                                       to supporting fruit and
                                                                       veg producers to meet this
                                                                       challenge. We will use powers

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
“Locally sourced fresh fruit and
          vegetables play a starring role in
          many of our signature dishes and
          are absolutely vital to the British
          food industry. Without these
          wonderful ingredients, like carrots,
          strawberries and even the humble
          potato, we would lose so many
          incredible flavours and such variety
          from our menus. It is really crucial
          that we do everything we can to
          protect these crops from climate
          change. As chefs and restaurateurs,
          we must step up and play our part:
          reducing emissions, and wasting
          less food, so that we can ensure
          there’s enough good food for future
                 generations to enjoy.”

               —Raymond Blanc OBE
            President of the Sustainable Restaurant
                          Association

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
Summary                                                        The challenge for everyone—and not just
                                                                                              the food and farming sector—is to work to
                                                                                              reduce climate emissions to help protect
                                                                                              we love for future generations. While the
Our supplies of British-grown potatoes, vegetables and fruit are at risk                      UK’s greenhouse gas emissions were 43%
as growers struggle to cope with extreme and unpredictable weather,                           below 1990 levels in 2017, it is not currently
                                                                                              on track to meet its future targets, legally
                 made more likely by climate change.                                          binding under the Climate Change Act
                                                                                              200815.                                              The 2018 summer
                                                                                                                                                  heatwave was made
                                                                                              However, within the food sector, there are         about 30 times more
New analysis released by The Climate          provide us with fruit and vegetables face       positive examples of farmers, food retailers      likely than it would be
Coalition and the Priestley International     greater climate risks—with more severe          and restaurants working to reduce their
Centre for Climate says the UK can expect     consequences for farmers in developing                                                              normally by climate
                                                                                              climate impact and safeguard British-grown
more frequent extreme weather events,         countries, particularly Africa, South           fruit and vegetable production.                            change
including longer-lasting and more intense     America and the Caribbean13. Early 2017
heatwaves and a one in three chance of        saw UK supermarkets suffering shortages         Farmers have made new commitments to
record-breaking rainfall hitting parts of     of courgettes and spinach and rationing         reduce their climate emissions, with the
England each winter. The 2018 summer          lettuce due to bad weather in Spain and         NFU setting out an ambition in January
heatwave was made about 30 times more         Italy.                                          2019 for UK farming to become net zero
likely than it would be normally by climate                                                   in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
change1.                                      Professor Tim Benton, the UK’s former           at the latest. Between 2014 and 2017, the
                                              ‘Food Security Champion’, said previously       installation of renewable energy on-farm
The climate extremes of the past few          optimistic-sounding forecasts now need to       by NFU members grew from more than a
years—including the snowfall and freezing     be re-evaluated. “My gut suspicion is we’re     quarter of farmers and growers to nearly
temperatures of February and March            in a regime that is much less reassuring        two-fifths (39%)16.                                More than half of
2018 and one of the driest June months in     than the older projections that we’ll benefit                                                      all farms in the UK
England and Wales since 19102—have been       from longer growing seasons and carbon          In the food retail and service sector, Tesco      say they have been
devastating for UK fruit and vegetable        dioxide.”14                                     has switched over to renewable electricity        affected by a severe
farmers. More than half of all farms in the                                                   in its UK stores and aims to reduce the
UK say they have been affected by a severe    The extreme and unpredictable weather                                                             climatic event in the
                                                                                              environmental impact of the average UK
climatic event, such as flooding or a storm   has hit British growers hard. “This year made   shopping basket by 50%17,18. Restaurant
                                                                                                                                                     past 10 years
in the past 10 years3.                        it seem like an impossible job. It’s really     chain Wahaca has gone carbon neutral
                                              hard work growing fruit and vegetables,         and is boosting its vegetarian options
Apple growers lost around 25% of their        but erratic and extreme weather pushes          for customers19. “The strength of the
harvest in 2017 due to unexpectedly late      you over the edge. I’d be devastated if I       vegetarian dishes will become more and
frosts4,5. Carrot yields (down a reported     had to deal with this year again,” said Matt    more important for restaurants. We need
25-30%)6,7,8 and onion yields (reportedly     Smee, co-founder of The Natural Veg Men,        to eat less meat so we [restaurants] need
down 40% on a normal year)9 were              a vegetable growing and delivery service        to offer choices for people to do that,” said
hampered in 2018 by warmer than average       in Cheshire.                                    founder Thomasina Miers20.
temperatures. Potato yields were down
on average 20% in England and Wales in        Lee Abbey, head of horticulture at the          The British public is also ready to act. Three-
2018 compared to the previous season10,       National Farmers’ Union (NFU), said, “A lot     quarters of all respondents to a YouGov           Over just three years,
making it the fourth smallest harvest since   of growers will have come out of this year      survey commissioned by The Climate                 the installation of
196011. For consumers, the lack of water      with sore heads and not much income.            Coalition said they would be willing to            renewable energy
and extreme heat of 2018 was reported to      Farmers and growers are used to dealing         buy more misshapen fruit and vegetables,           on farms by NFU
have cut more than one inch off the size of   with fluctuations in the weather but if we      while 62% would buy more locally-sourced
the average chip12.                           have two or three extreme years in a row                                                           members grew to
                                                                                              food and 57% more seasonal food to help
                                              it has the potential to put growers out of      achieve a more environmentally-friendly                   39%
Other parts of Europe and countries which     business.”                                      diet21.

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
“A lot of growers will have come
          out of this year with sore heads
          and not much income. Farmers and
          growers are used to dealing with
          fluctuations in the weather but if we
          have two or three extreme years
          in a row it has the potential to
           put growers out of business.”

          — Lee Abbey, head of horticulture at the NFU

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Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
French chef Raymond Blanc called it                                .One of our most popular foods is British-
                                  the British food revolution. Throwing off                          grown potatoes, which have been a part
                                  a reputation for indifference towards                              of our diets for hundreds of years. Food
                                  the origins of their dinner plate, British                         historian Colin Spencer says early potatoes
                                  consumers want to know where their food                            were selling at a premium in the 18th
                  Chapter 01      comes from. And that extends to wanting to                         century —450g cost more than a labourer’s
                                  be able to buy and eat food grown in the                           weekly wage—such was people’s relish for
                                  UK, with 62% of UK adults saying they prefer                       eating the very first crop26. Around 15% of
                                  to buy fruit and vegetables grown in the UK                        all meals include potatoes and potato crisps
               Our love of        to help achieve a more environmentally-
                                  friendly diet, according to a YouGov survey
                                                                                                     remain one of our favourite snacks27,28.

             British-grown        commissioned by The Climate Coalition22.                           Another favourite are carrots, which have
                                                                                                     found their way into a number of popular
                                  This love of British food has been captured                        British dishes, including carrot soup and
          fruits and vegetables   by the growing popularity of local food
                                  markets, which allow producers to sell
                                                                                                     carrot cake. It was no surprise to see Great
                                                                                                     British Bake Off runner-up Ian Cumming
                                  directly to consumers. In March 1998,                              tapping into that recipe with his colossal
                                  there was only one farmers’ market in                              five-tier carrot cake in series 6 of the popular
                                  England—in Bath. Today, there are more                             TV show.
                                  than 600 registered with The Farm Retail
                                  Association23.                                 A more recent addition to the British food
                                                                                 and drink favourites has been English wine.
                                  It is also reflected in the buying habits of A national body for winemakers was only
                                  major supermarkets. Sainsbury’s vowed in established in 1967, but there are now more
                                  2014 to double the amount of British food than 500 vineyards in England and Wales29.
                                  it sold by 202024 while the Co-op is currently Together, they produce five million bottles
                                  sponsoring the British Food Fortnight, a year, with another two million more on the
                                  which started in 2002 in a bid to promote way on the back of new vines planted over
                                  and celebrate buying and eating home- the past year30. The UK’s sparkling wine
                                  produced food25                                trade has enjoyed rapid growth in the last
                                                                                 five years with volume sales up 89%31.

                                                                                                     While the UK’s climate makes it tough to
                                                                                                     produce quality red wine, the south of
                                                                                                     England has developed a reputation for
                                                                                                     white and, in particular, white sparkling
                                                                                                     wines. The Queen joined the trend by
                                                                                                     planting a vineyard in the grounds of
                                                                                                     Windsor Palace in 201032. In the last 16
                                                                                                     years English sparkling wines have won
                                                                                                     no fewer than 15 International Trophies in
                                                                                                     global competitions33.

                                                                                                    62% of respondents said
                                                                                                    they would buy more
                                                                                                    locally-sourced food*

Page 15                           *Respondents from a YouGov survey for The Climate Coalition, January 2019                                   Page 16
Recipe for Disaster - How climate change threatens British-grown fruit and veg - Squarespace
Chapter 02

The what, how, and
where of British fruit
and veg production

The UK horticulture sector is comparatively      The downside of so much of the UK’s fruit
small in terms of land use when set against      and vegetable production being based
the arable and livestock sectors. The            in the East and South of the UK is its
growing of fruit and vegetables takes up         vulnerability to water shortages. With
around 3% of the cropped arable land in          climate scientists now predicting stronger
the UK, but that is enough to provide more       and longer-lasting heatwaves for the UK40,
than half (54%) of all the vegetables that we    growers are faced with increasing risks to
eat in the UK34, producing £3.7billion worth     their operations and survival.
of produce35.

The UK is around 60% self-sufficient in terms
of the food we eat being grown in Britain.
But for carrots (93%), peas (96%), cabbage            The UK is one
(92%), strawberries (67%) and raspberries                 of the top
(62%) we are able to grow enough to meet                 20 potato
the vast majority of demand in the UK                 producers in
throughout the year36.
                                                           the world
More than 95% of fruit and vegetable
production in the UK takes place in
England. The biggest growing area is the
East of England, including the counties
of Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire,
Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk37.
                                                    More than 80% of                          93%   96%   92%   67%     62%
                                                     all potatoes we eat
More than 80% of all the potatoes we eat            are grown in the UK
are grown in the UK—now a £700m industry
in Britain—putting the country in the top 20
potato producers in the world38. The East
                                                                                                            The UK grows 60% of
Midlands, East of England, Yorkshire and                               Potato production                            the food it eats
Humber and Scotland account for 75% of                                 is a £700 million
all potato production. The creamy white                                 industry in Britain
Maris Piper - great for chips, roast potatoes,
mash or wedges - remains the most popular
variety planted by growers in the UK39.

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Chapter 03

             Climate change
               and the UK
          What can we expect? A view from
          Kate Sambrook and Professor Piers
          Forster, from the Priestley International
                     Centre for Climate

Page 19                                               Page 20
temperature in England in the 2030s (top) and 2040s (bottom), relative to
                                                                                                                                             1981-2000, using the high emissions scenario (RCP8.5). Results are shown

                                                                                                                                             the likelihood of those temperatures occurring in the scenario. (Source:
                                                                                                                                             Figure 1: UKCP18 projections of average daily maximum summer

                                                                                                                                             at three percentiles: 10th (left), 50th (middle) and 90th (right), reflecting
          Global average surface temperatures have
          increased by 1°C since the 1850s and we are
          already seeing the consequences around the world:
          more extreme weather events such as floods and
          heatwaves, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic
          sea ice are among some of the observed changes41.

          The latest climate change projections over the UK

                                                                                                                                             Met Office, 2018f)
          for the 21st century show an increased chance of
          milder, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers
          along with an increase in the frequency and
                         intensity of extremes42.
                                                                Heatwaves:
                                                                Hotter, longer,
                                                                more often

                                                                During the past few decades, the UK           emissions scenario (RCP8.5) show this is
                                                                has seen increases in high temperature        likely to increase. By the 2030s, average
                                                                extremes43.The      summer       of    2018   daily maximum summer temperatures
                                                                was notable for its record-breaking           could be up to 4°C warmer, and up to
                                                                temperatures, with 35.6°C recorded at         5°C warmer by the 2050s. The pattern of
                                                                Felsham (Suffolk).44 24°C was the average     warming may not be the same everywhere,
                                                                maximum temperature across East Anglia        with Southern England experiencing the
                                                                and South East England, where some            largest changes (Figure 1).
                                                                places experienced 58 ‘dry days’ in a
                                                                row45,46. 2018 was the joint hottest summer   Climate change has already made the 2018
                                                                on record for the UK (tied with those of      record-breaking UK summer temperatures
                                                                1976, 2003 and 2006) and the hottest          about 30 times more likely than they would
                                                                ever for England since records began in       be normally49. If warming continues at its
                                                                191047. The prolonged dry spell affected      current rate, heatwaves will become more
                                                                agricultural production across the country,   intense and longer-lasting and by 2050
                                                                with significant reductions in onion and      could occur every other year50. Heatwaves
                                                                carrot yields48. The 1981-2000 average        with an average temperature of 40°C and
                                                                daily maximum summer temperature              a duration of 50 days are likely to occur
                                                                in England ranged from 18 to 22°C.            more frequently by 210051.
                                                                Projections by the Met Office under a high

Page 21                                                                                                                                                                     Page 22
Rainfall:
          Variable,
          more extreme

          Seasonal differences in           in a new monthly record of with the largest decreases
          rainfall are likely to present    219mm; 84% more rainfall in the South64. While there
          risks to soils and agricultural   than normal58.               will still be wetter years, this
          production,          especially                                suggests that dry summers
          in Eastern and Southern           Extremely wet winters like like 2018 are likely to
          England52.      During     the    the winter of 2013-2014 become more probable in
          past decade (2008-2017),          and 2015/16 will become the future65. In combination
          average annual rainfall in        more common in the with higher temperatures,
          England was 6% higher             future59,60.Research on UK this could reduce the
          than the level seen in            extreme rainfall has found viability of some farming
          1961-1990, with a marked          that there is a one in three activities, due to increased
          increase in winter.53 This is     chance of record-breaking soil erosion, aridity and
          likely to get worse in the        rainfall hitting parts of water requirements66.
          future, with a projected 20%      England       each    winter
          increase in average winter        (October-March) . 61
                                                                     The
          rainfall by the 2030s, and        largest number of extreme
          up to 30-40% by the 2050s.        rainfall events were found
          The largest increases are         in December, suggesting
          shown to occur in Southern        that wet winters like the
          England, particularly around      ones we have experienced
          the coast (Figure 2).             lately could occur more
                                            frequently, increasing the
                                            risk of major flooding on
          Over the past 40 years, the       farmland62.
          intensity of winter rainfall in
          England has also increased,       With      the  majority   of
          with more frequent spells of      agricultural      production
          exceptionally wet weather.54      occurring in regions with
          The recent winters of 2013-       limited water supplies, a
          2014 and 2015-2016 were           main concern for farmers
          notable for their record-         is a reduction in summer
          breaking seasonal and             rainfall63. Despite a small
          monthly      rainfall,  which     overall increase in England,
                                                                           Figure 2: UKCP18 projections of winter rainfall anomaly changes in England for the
          resulted in flooding in many      future projections show        2030s (top) and 2040s (bottom) relative to 1981-2000, using the high emissions
          parts of the country55. 2013-     that this trend is unlikely    scenario (RCP8.5). Results are shown at three percentiles: 10th (left), 50th (middle)
                                                                           and 90th (right), reflecting the likelihood of those temperatures occurring in the
          2014 was the wettest winter       to continue. In the next 20    scenario. (Source: Met Office, 2018f)
          on record for the UK, with a      years, average summer
          total of 545mm; 67% more          rainfall could reduce by
          than the annual winter            up to 30% below average
          average56,57. Persistent rain     (1981-2000), and in the next
          in December 2015, resulted        40 years by up to 50%,

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“If extreme weather events continue, there
                      Chapter 04            is a big risk that a run of challenging years
                                            could prove too much for businesses to
             Why climate                    sustain.”
            extremes could
                                            — Dr Nicola Cannon, Royal Agricultural University
          wipe out specialist
          fruit and vegetable               Much of the UK was engulfed in blizzard
                                            conditions and freezing temperatures
                                                                                         of them ran out of stored water as the dry
                                                                                         spell     continued.     Extreme      weather
                growers                     for nearly 10 days in early March 2018.
                                            When temperatures finally rose and drier
                                                                                         conditions that affect saleable crop yield and
                                                                                         value can have severe impact on specialist
                                            weather conditions prevailed, there was a    growers (businesses which have invested in
                                            big backlog of land preparation to catch up  equipment around production of a specific
                                            with, resulting in very late sowing/planting fruit/vegetable) if they fail to receive
                                            dates for many crops. Sowing crops late      sufficient income to pay the business costs.
                                            immediately gives them a disadvantage;       These growers are often the innovators of
                                            they are still small when day lengths are    the industry and have acquired debt to
                                            greatest and therefore the plants are        invest in technology, machinery and labour
                                            less effective at capturing sunlight by      to meet the market demands as well as
                                            photosynthesis to generate energy and        having to pay high land rental values for
                                            growth. However, 2018 still held another     their expanding businesses. Even though
                                            sting in the tail for growers as the late spring
                                                                                         potato and many other fruit and vegetable
                                            was immediately followed by very hot and     values have seen high prices in 2018 in
                                            dry conditions, which further inhibited plantmany cases, it is not sufficient to cover the
                                            growth.                                      shortfall in production. If extreme weather
                                                                                         events continue, there is a big risk that a run
                                            Potatoes, a staple food crop in the UK, of challenging years could prove too much
                                            reported low yields and some quality for the businesses to sustain.
                                            issues. Many farmers did not start planting
                                            potatoes until the first week in May when Many farmers and growers are already
                                            normal planting dates are early-mid March- trying to plan to make their businesses more
                                            April. Potatoes require a great deal of resilient to climate change and extreme
                                            land preparation prior to planting, often weather events. Some strategies include
                                            including ploughing, secondary cultivations new production techniques to conserve
                                            and then bed formation. This intensive moisture, water storage, improved irrigation
                                            cultivation regime quickly dried out soils application and greater monitoring of soil
                                            due to unseasonably high temperatures moisture. A vital step for all growers is
                                            recorded during planting. Potato growers enhancing soil organic matter so that soils
                                            who did not have irrigation on their farms can better retain nutrients and cope with
                                            suffered reduced growth due to moisture extreme rainfall events better by improved
            A view by Dr. Nicola Cannon,    stressed plants, resulting in low yields and water retention, which is then beneficial
            Royal Agricultural University   poor quality due to poor skin finish with when or if drought conditions develop.
                                            small and cracked tubers. Growers with
                                            irrigation fared somewhat better, but many

Page 25                                                                                                                         Page 26
“My gut suspicion is we’re now experiencing a regime that is much less reassuring than the
older projections that we’ll benefit from longer growing seasons and carbon dioxide. So
blocking patterns in summer (like this year) or winter (like the stream of severe winter storms in
2015-2016; or long cold-snaps) are likely to impede yields—even if in an average year yields might
notionally improve. Add in new pests and diseases, and more over-winter survival of pests and
diseases and I wouldn’t be complacent.”

— Professor Tim Benton, professor of population ecology at the University of Leeds, and the UK’s former ‘Food Security Champion’

                                              There have been positive-            of last year’s cold spring made by cutting the             weather was “causing long-
  Chapter 05
                                              sounding news stories about          and heatwave limiting crop potatoes, they are not          term soil damage”.
                                              global warming benefiting            growth78.                    reformed     so     smaller
                                              UK fruit and vegetable                                            potatoes means smaller        NFU Deputy President Guy
The climate risks                             production in terms of an
                                              extended growing season.
                                                                                   “In season, the bulk of our chips because the length
                                                                                   vegetables come from UK is reduced,” said Cedric
                                                                                                                                              Smith said, “The reason why
                                                                                                                                              1976 was so damaging to
                                              But extreme temperatures,            growers. In a normal year Porter, editor of World          yields was because of a dry
facing growers                                water availability, and new
                                              pests and diseases pose a
                                                                                   you’d see British onions Potato Markets.
                                                                                   on the market for 48-50
                                                                                                                                              1975. 2018 came after a wet
                                                                                                                                              2017— and a wet spring in
                                              major risk to growers76,77.          weeks of the year. This year NFU    President   Minette    2018 too— so it could have
                                                                                   a higher proportion will be Batters called the heatwave    been a lot worse. If we see
                                              The past twelve months have          imported,” said Jack Ward, and drought of the summer       the patterns we are now
                                              been a warning sign of what          CEO of the British Growers of 2018 a “wake-up call”,       seeing with a dry January
                                              growers might face with a            Association.                 saying it had caused          then there won’t be residual
                                              rise in frequency of extreme                                      unpredictable crop yields     rainfall in the soil for growers
                                              weather events, due to               Consumers have already and lower quality fruit             this year.”
                                              climate change. Farming              had to deal with smaller and vegetable harvests79.
                                              groups warned consumers              potatoes and chips due While Ben Raskin, head
                                              to expect smaller and fewer          to the lack of water and of horticulture at the Soil
                                              popular British vegetables           extreme heat in 2018. Association, said as well as
                                              including carrots, onions,           “They were 3cm shorter on damaging individual crops,
                                              potatoes and leeks, because          average in the UK. Chips are extreme and unpredictable

Page 27                                                                                                                                                               Page 28
Climatic events and
          their impacts on crops

                 Heavy Rainfall                                      Drought                                      Flooding

          Waterlogged land prevents                      Reduced yields; increased                      Soil erosion; kills plants;
             access and harvest;                         demand for irrigation but                    long-term yield loss and an
          reduced yields; increased                      water supplies may not be                    increase in susceptibility of
                disease risks                                    available                                  roots to disease

                      Heatwave                                        Storms                                         Frosts

          Crop losses, reduced yield/                     Loss of leaves/blossom;                       Warmer winters could
                    quality                                crop damage from hail                        hasten flowering in fruit
                                                            or wind; supply chain                      crops leading to greater
                                                                 disruptions                          susceptibility to late spring
                                                                                                                 frosts

          Taken from From WWF’s ‘Food in a warming world: The changing foods on the British plate’67, and ‘UK Fruit and
Page 29   Vegetable Production – impacts of climate change and opportunities for adaptation’68                                Page 30
Summary of what we know                                                                     Summary of what we know

                                                                                                          Production now heavily dependent on irrigation with

                                                                             Potatoes
              In 2017, apple growers reported losing around 20% of
Apples

              their expected harvest due to a very late and severe frost                                  rainfed production likely to be limited in the future. Growers
              in May75. Production concentrated in the south of England                                   reported smaller potato size and yields (down on average
              which is predicted to see an increased frequency of                                         20% in England and Wales) after the summer heatwave
              drought.                                                                                    of 201869. Also increased risk from pests and diseases
                                                                                                          migrating and benefiting from warmer climate70.
Wine grapes

              Late spring in April or May can damage vine shoots, as can

                                                                             Strawberries & soft fruits
              rainfall at flowering stage in July. Both will damage growth
              and yields.                                                                                 Competition for water supplies. Between 70% and 80%
                                                                                                          of tree fruit and soft fruit production takes place in areas
                                                                                                          classified as being under water stress71. Heavily reliant on
                                                                                                          irrigation but production is concentrated in areas of high
                                                                                                          public, industrial and agricultural water demands. Less
                                                                                                          water per capita in the south east of England than some
              Flower quality and yields reduced by warmer winter                                          parts of the Mediterranean. Abstraction rates in major fruit
Cauliflower

              temperatures, with cauliflower varieties grown in UK                                        growing areas (south, east and west Midlands) are already
              requiring a colder overwinter. Expectation of more pests,                                   unsustainable and set to rise by 30% by 205072. Milder
              such as the diamond-back or cabbage moth, which do not                                      winters may cause blackcurrant crops to flower later in the
              currently survive UK winters in large numbers.                                              year and produce less fruit73.

                                                                                                          Late plantings in 2018 due to cold spell in spring. Growth

                                                                             Onions
salad crops

                                                                                                          restricted by higher summer temperatures. Yields for 2018
 Lettuce &

              Production mostly outdoors. Vulnerable to long periods                                      were reportedly down 40% on 201774.
              of drought especially around planting and early stages of
              growth. Production likely to be hampered in the south and
              east of England.
Carrots

              Growth restricted by higher temperatures.

 Page 31                                                                                                                                                        Page 32
Heatwaves
and droughts
Average UK temperatures have risen by industrial and agricultural water demands.
0.8°C over the last 40 years, with nine of They will have to compete with rising
the ten warmest years for the UK occurring competition and charges for using public
since 200280. The prolonged spell of hot water supplies and face possible restrictions
and dry weather in June and July across on abstraction in the summer83.
the UK saw the summer of 2018 become
the joint hottest on record.                                      Between 70% and 80%
Average        temperatures “Last year’s drought meant our of tree fruit and soft fruit
(15.6°C for the UK and costs of production went up production takes place in
17.2°C in England) were [higher water and labour costs] areas that are classified as
1.5°C above the long-term and the yield went down so we being under water stress.
average81.                     were left with less produce to Abstraction rates in major
                               sell. With the low winter rainfall fruit growing areas (south,
The       higher    summer that we’ve had so far, our east and west Midlands)
temperatures       damaged reserves are not yet restored. are already unsustainable
the growth of onions and So as a grower do I commit to and set to rise by 30% by
carrots, whose optimum growing a crop that I don’t yet 205084,85.
temperature is lower. The have enough water for, or just
British Onion Producers’ plant what I have enough for, i.e. For            all     vegetable
Association said yields were   less?   Extreme   weather   events production in the East
down 40% on last year. The are not good for UK agriculture of the UK, any expected
reduced growth was worse as buyers will start to look benefits                  from      an
because some growers                 elsewhere for supplies.”     extended growing season
were up to six weeks late in                                      will be counteracted
planting due to the ‘Beast     Mark    Bowyer,  grower  of  herbs by      reduced       water
from the East’ cold weather and leafy vegetables across Sur- availability, particularly
spell in spring82.             rey, Berkshire and Buckingham- given the competing
                                              shire               human and industrial
Strawberry growers in the                                         water demands86. Even
UK are acutely at risk from                                       those with irrigation
the current climate prediction is of more will be hit as these systems rely to a large
frequent spells of drought. Production extent on water abstraction on-farm, which
is now heavily reliant on irrigation, but is will be affected by reduced surface and
concentrated in areas of high public,           groundwater87.

Page 33
“All last year’s (2018) crops went in very wet and cold soil. We were 2-3 weeks behind. I’ve never
          known it as late as this in 18 years working at this business. We lost probably £200,000-£250,000
          worth of sale from those lost weeks. We could then only harvest minimal volumes to fulfill contracts
                during the extreme heat. We rely on being able to produce UK crops for 26 weeks a year.
             If this year’s extremes were to become year-to-year it would threaten our survival.”

                          — Chris Daking, a director at Valley Produce, one the UK’s biggest fresh herb producers

Page 35                                                                                                             Page 36
Pests, diseases, and
          weeds

          The advent of milder winters and warmer         fungus called Fusarium Basal Rot (FBR).
          summers, more typical currently of some         FBR is forecast to worsen with climate
          other parts of Europe, will mean new pests      change projections for warmer and wetter
          and diseases spreading from warmer              conditions91.
          climates, faster growing weeds and the
          likelihood of more plant pathogens              The UK is currently the largest producer
          surviving through the winter, and potentially   and consumer of frozen peas in Europe, but
          an increase in pesticide use88.                 scientists have warned that milder winters
                                                          will increase the risk from pests; like the pea
          The hot weather of the summer of 2018           beetle whose range is expected to extend
          brought increased incidence of pests for        further north from France to the UK. Higher
          all fruit and vegetable growers in the UK.      temperatures and dry weather will also
          The resistance of plants to attack can break    bring risk of an increase in root disease and
          down under temperature extremes, leading        powdery mildew92.
          to increased crop losses89.
                                                          Insect pollinators, particularly honeybees
          British lettuce production was especially       and wild bees, are vital to maximising yield
          damaged by caterpillars last summer,            and quality in a number of horticultural
          with insects developing rapidly when            crops producing fruit. With populations
          temperatures are high and when they are         under considerable pressure from other
          not ‘knocked-back’ by periods of rainfall90.    stressors such as parasites and pathogens,
                                                          it is hard to predict what the effect of the
          In 2012, higher than normal temperatures        combination of these factors and climate
          in the UK were linked to £11million of losses   change will be93.
          for UK onion production from a soil-borne

Page 37                                                                                          Page 38
“This year made it seem like an
          impossible job. It’s really hard work
          growing fruit and vegetables, but
          erratic and extreme weather
          pushes you over the edge.”

          — Matt Smee, co-founder of The Natural Veg
            Men

Extreme   The extreme rainfall in the
          summer of 2007, winter of
                                          late frosts and also cause
                                          asynchrony with the normal
weather   2013-2014 and December
          2015 saturated farmland,
                                          pollinators, resulting in poor
                                          fertilisation98. Over half
events    causing high financial losses
          for both fruit and vegetable
                                          of all farms in the UK say
                                          they have been affected
          producers from crop loss        by a severe climatic event
          and waterlogged fields          in the past 10 years99. The
          that reduced yields94,95. The   negative impacts on our
          intense period of storms        soils, water, vegetation
          and rainfall between mid-       and wildlife are likely to
          December        2013      and   be “significant”, according
          February 2014 led to a          to the UK’s Committee on
          10% reduction in yield for      Climate Change100.
          potatoes and root crops96.
                                          “This year made it seem
          Aside     from    flooding,     like an impossible job. It’s
          other extreme weather           really hard work growing
          risks include late spring       fruit and vegetables, but
          frost, severe drought or        erratic and extreme weather
          prolonged soil wetness, all     pushes you over the edge.
          of which may cause crop         I’d be devastated if I had to
          failure or a substantial        deal with this year again,”
          reduction in yield and          said Matt Smee, co-founder
          quality of both fruit and       of The Natural Veg Men,
          vegetable crops97. Earlier      a vegetable growing and
          flowering time might make       delivery service in Cheshire.
          crops more vulnerable to

Page 39                                                                    Page 40
“In August 2015, a five-minute
          hailstorm with a mini tornado
          destroyed my entire crop of
          apples. The crop was almost
          ready to be picked and then within
          a few days of the hail the entire
                  crop was rotten.”

          — Ali Capper, chair of NFU horticulture board

Page 41                                                   Page 42
Chapter 06

                                                                                                Potato is number one
Case study:                                                                                        in the top 10 most
                                                                                                 wasted food & drink
Potatoes                                                                                            items in UK homes
                                                                                                (that could have been
                                                                                                              eaten)101
Outdoor crops such as potatoes are             Aside from water, the biggest threats
particularly sensitive to changes in rainfall, to growers are pests and diseases. The
temperature and soil. Potatoes are a water-    roundworm pest potato cyst nematode                                          By the 2050s, the area
thirsty crop so rainfed production is likely toalready causes losses of approximately £50                                   of land that is currently
be severely limited in the future in the UK. Bymillion per year to UK growers. That figure                                  well suited for potatoes
the 2050s, the area of land that is currently  is predicted to rise with the pest benefiting
well-suited for potatoes would decline by      from warmer soil and air temperatures due
                                                                                                                            will decline by 74%
74% under climate projections102. However,     to climate change. UK growers have, up
getting approval for irrigation will be        until now, escaped the deadly Colorado
limited, with 43% of growers on catchments     Potato Beetle which can destroy the entire
defined as being over-licensed or over-        crop. Although widespread in continental
abstracted103.                                 Europe, there have been only a few UK
                                               cases. But with a warmer climate it is feared
The combination of sub-zero temperatures this beetle will become a much greater pest
in the early months of 2018, followed by a for UK producers108.
wet spring and the summer heatwave saw a
3% fall in the area planted with potatoes last “Un-irrigated potatoes really suffered
year104. The combination of late planting this year so in the future I suspect we’ll
and stalled tuber growth due to the hot and see a reduction if the extreme droughts
dry weather led to a 20% drop in the total are repeated. In 2018, it was meeting
harvest of potatoes in 2018 in Great Britain specification (size and skin finish) that has
compared to the previous season105.            been the issue. The supply chain has been
                                               able to relax specification to accommodate
It was the fourth smallest potato harvest what has been produced, but if the quality            The roundworm pest
since 1960, with only 1975, 1976 and is low buyers could start to look elsewhere,”
                                                                                               potato cyst nematode
2012 smaller106. While 1975 and 1976 said Dr Nicola Dunn, scientist at the
were exceptionally dry years, growers Agricultural & Horticultural Development                 already causes losses
were affected by persistent and prolonged Board.                                                    of approximately
rainfall around the growing and harvesting                                                     £50million per year        The combination of late
periods in 2012107.                            There are now concerns about how potato                to UK growers       planting and stalled tuber
                                               growers will fare this year, according to                                  growth due to the hot and
“Growers were battling a shortage of water Cedric Porter, editor of World Potato                                          dry weather led to a 20%
this year; the combined June and July Markets. “People are worried about the                                              drop in the total harvest
period was one of the driest on record,” winter so far as we’ve had a dry January,
                                                                                                                          of potatoes in 2018 in
said Sector Strategy Director at AHDB especially on the eastern side where most
Potatoes, Dr Rob Clayton. “We won’t run potatoes are grown. The danger is when we                                         Great Britain compared to
out of potatoes. We didn’t in 2012, and now have the rain. We don’t want it in the                                        the previous year
we won’t in 2018. But what consumers will growing season in March or April; we need
notice is a wider range of shapes and sizes it over the next month or so,” he said.
in the bag they bring home to cook with.”

Page 43                                                                                                                                           Page 44
“The exceptionally cold and
          late spring meant the crop went
             in late and then we suffered
            torrential rain in late May that
           caused severe erosion in some
           fields and lost crops. That was
              followed by the prolonged
            heatwave, which meant yields
              were down 20-25%. I’ll be
          reducing my acreage next year
          because I can’t afford to take
             the risk of planting more
                      potatoes.”

            — Richard Thompson, potato grower,
                       Staffordshire

Page 45                                          Page 46
“Warm weather at the tail end of
                       winter when you’re not expecting
                       it gets the vine shoots growing
                       when they should normally be shut
                       down.”

                       — Cameron Roucher, Rathfinny Estate

                       When it comes to the             “Some producers may have
          Chapter 07
                       burgeoning English wine          lost half their crop from it,”
                       industry, the UK is at the       says Cameron Roucher,
                       climate margins of suitability   estate manager of the
          Case         for viticulture. There has
                       been an expectation that
                                                        Rathfinny      Estate,
                                                        Sussex. “Warm weather at
                                                                                 East

                       global warming will make it      the tail end of winter when
          study:       possible to regularly ripen
                       grapes in a UK climate.
                                                        you’re not expecting it gets
                                                        the vine shoots growing
          Wine         Parts of England are now
                       enjoying the climate that
                                                        when they should normally
                                                        be shut down. If you then
                       the Champagne region of          get a late frost it really
                       north-east France did 20         messes them up.”
                       years ago109. The climate
                       in the southeast and south
                       central UK has reliably
                       exceeded a 13°C growing
                       season temperature since
                       the early 1990s.

                       For UK growers, the
                       unseasonal spring frost
                       in late March 2017 was
                       particularly devastating. It
                       had followed a period of
                       warmer weather meaning
                       vine shoots had started to
                       grow and were therefore
                       particularly       vulnerable.
                       Some vineyards reported
                       up to 75% of crops being
                       damaged by late spring
                       frosts in 2017110.

Page 47                                                                       Page 48
Chapter 08

                                                                     Everyone has to do their bit
                 Saving British fruits
                   and vegetables:
                  what can we do?

          The growing interest from consumers, retailers and
          chefs in sourcing British ingredients has been a boon to
          fruit and vegetable growers. But if this British success
          story is going to continue, then everyone—and not just
          the food industry —will need to do their bit to reduce
          their climate impact to help protect British-grown fruit
                         and vegetable production.

          As well as adapting and making their farms more
          resilient to climate change, there are some brilliant
          examples of the work that farmers and food retailers
          are doing to reduce climate emissions and promote
          British-grown produce. This has included installing
          renewables, increased woodland planting, prioritising
          the sourcing of local and seasonal produce, and helping
          to cut food waste by selling so-called wonky vegetables
                     that would otherwise be dumped.                                                62%          57%          75%
                                                                                                    Willing to   Willing to   Willing to
          Consumers are also ready to do their bit.Three-quarters                                   buy more     buy more     buy more
          of respondents to a YouGov survey commissioned by                                         local food   seasonal     misshapen
                                                                                                                   food          food
          The Climate Coalition said they would be willing to
          buy more misshapen fruit and vegetables, 62% more
          locally-sourced food and 57% more seasonal food to
            help achieve a more environmentally-friendly diet111.

Page 49                                                                                                                             Page 50
its climate advisors in             renewables among NFU           Across the retail and           agroforestry        to    reduce
                                                                                                                                                             This    enables     growers
Reducing                         October 2018 for advice on          members grew from more         food service sector there       climate emissions121. Theto reduce their use of
                                 setting a date for achieving        than a quarter of farmers      have been investments in        Soil Association has set a
                                                                                                                                                             energy-intensive        and
climate                          net zero greenhouse gas             and growers to nearly          reducing climate emissions.     target of agroforestry onenvironmentally-harmful
                                 emissions     from    across        two-fifths    (39%). “Farm     Tesco has switched over to      50% of all farms by 2030122,
                                                                                                                                                             inputs. There are also plans
emissions                        the economy, including              businesses are seeing the      renewable electricity for all   with the Committee on    to develop carbon neutral
                                 transport, industry and             benefits of contributing to    its stores and distribution     Climate Change having    farms in the UK, where
                                 farming.115                         the decarbonising of the       centres in the UK, with a       highlighted         afforestation
                                                                                                                                                             emissions are minimised
                                                                     economy and diversifying       long-term plan to be zero-      as a key contributor to the
                                                                                                                                                             and offset through on-
                                 In January 2019, the NFU            their     income     streams   carbon by 2050119. The          UK meeting its climate   farm energy generation
The food system in the UK        set out its aspiration for          through renewable energy       renewables push helped the      targets123,124,125.      Organic
                                                                                                                                                             including biogas and solar
contributes around 19%           UK farming to become net            production,”      said    Dr   UK’s biggest supermarket        vegetable delivery company
                                                                                                                                                             panels    or    agroforestry
of our total emissions, with     zero in its greenhouse gas          Jonathan Scurlock, Chief       chain reduce its operational    Riverford has a seven-acre
                                                                                                                                                             and the planting of trees
40% of those originating         emissions by 2040 at the            Adviser, Renewable Energy      emissions by 13% in 2017120.    agroforestry site on its farm
                                                                                                                                                             to absorb carbon127,128,129.
from agriculture112. But         latest. “It’s ambitious. I see it   and Climate Change at the      Sainsbury’s cut its emissions   in Devon mixing fruit trees
                                                                                                                                                             David Drew MP, shadow
meeting the UK’s 2050            as us continuing to produce         NFU. The most popular          by 8% in 2017.                  and vegetable crops.     DEFRA Minister, said, “This
target to reduce emissions       food in this country, but that      is solar PV, installed by                                                               year’s drought is indicative
by at least 80% of 1990          is sustainable in the future,”      nearly one-third of NFU        The supermarket Waitrose On-farm, the government of the impact of climate
levels will require reductions   said NFU president Minette          members.117 The rising         has helped to support a has made much of the change and a reminder of
from across the economy113.      Batters116. An increasing           numbers of electric cars—      network of farmers and value of so-called precision the need to recognise how
Those targets will also need     number of farmers and               and tractors soon—on the       researchers            working farming, where technology farming can only be made
to be accelerated in light       growers across the UK               road could also create         together on ideas to help is used to enable targeted sustainable if we prioritise
of the Paris Agreement to        are already investing in            opportunities for farmers      reduce the climate impact of use of chemical inputs like improving soil qualities,
pursue efforts to limit global   renewables. Between 2014            to host battery charging       farming, including switching fertilisers126.             water management and
warming to 1.5°C114. The UK      and 2017, the uptake of             stations, say the NFU.         to cover crops, reducing                                 encourage pollinators.”
government asked                                                                                    fertiliser use and trialling

Page 51                                                                                                                                                                           Page 52
Cutting   Large quantities of the UK’s fruits and
                    vegetables are thrown away before they
                                                                     horticulture at the NFU. In response to food
                                                                     waste campaigns, a number of retailers
            food    reach our dinner plates. This comes at a huge
                    climate cost, with food waste responsible for
                                                                     have also started selling more imperfect
                                                                     produce, so-called wonky fruit and
           waste    8% of global greenhouse gas emissions130.
                    In Europe, the climate change impact of
                                                                     vegetables. Tesco claims to have sold more
                                                                     than 15,000 tonnes of ‘perfectly imperfect’
                    growing wasted food is equivalent to the         fruit and veg in the UK and removed best
                    carbon emissions of almost 400,000 cars131.      before dates from more than 180 products
                    Fruit and vegetables already have the            to help stop edible foods, including apples,
                    highest wastage rates of any food because        being thrown away before necessary137.
                    of their perishability - estimated at more
                    than 30% across the UK and Europe132.            Away from fields and supermarket shelves,
                                                                     there       is
                    Food can be lost at farm level due to climatic   a        huge
                    damage such as heavy rainfall or pests           amount      of
                    and disease. But more than one-third of          waste by the
                    farmed fruit and vegetables never reaches        food service

                                                                                                                  Image credit: Feedback
                    supermarket shelves largely because it is        sector and
                    misshapen or the wrong size133. Farmers          consumers.
                    contracted to supermarkets typically grow        One million
                    more food than they are obliged to supply        tonnes      of
                    to allow for a proportion that they know will    food        is
                    be deemed to be unfit to sell.                   wasted every
                                                                     year by the
                    Growers are very much at the mercy of            hospitality and food service sectors138. UK
                    supermarket buying decisions. Kent-based         households are binning £13billion worth of
                    grower Geoff Philpott reported 100,000           edible food each year, with incorrect storage
                    cauliflowers going to waste after his buyer      a major reason139. In the food service sector,
                    dramatically reduced their order at the same     more than 900 JD Wetherspoon pubs across
                    time as a big glut occurred134. Following a      the UK are sending zero waste to landfill,
                    Feedback campaign to bring Geoff’s story         with food waste segregated and sent for
                    to public attention, several supermarkets        anaerobic digestion140. Ice cream company
                    including Tesco and Aldi committed to            Ben & Jerry’s use their own food waste to
                    marketing cauliflowers during the glut, to       fuel a biodigester at their European factory
                    absorb some of the surplus produce. Tesco        in Hellendoom, the Netherlands - meeting
                    sold 220,000 extra cauliflowers at 79p each      around half the factory’s annual energy
                    and Aldi sold 500,000 extra cauliflowers at      requirements141.
                    29p each—a total of 720,000 cauliflowers
                    saved135,136.                                A restaurant in Brighton, Silo, has proclaimed
                                                                 itself the UK’s first zero-waste food outlet
                    The majority of the UK’s supermarkets through a combination of recycling,
                    responded to the extreme weather of 2018 composting food scraps and deliveries
                    by lowering standards to prevent food taken in reusable containers direct from
                    waste and keep up supplies of British- producers. It also brews its own beer in the
                    grown produce. “Reports of the crop being basement142. And in Bristol, a consumer
                    smaller with blemishes and skin defects awareness campaign managed to achieve
                    would normally mean it wouldn’t meet a 16% rise in food waste recycling rates
                    supermarket specifications to make sure among local residents143.
                    they could sell as much British produce as
                    possible,” said Lee Abbey, head of

Page 53                                                                                                    Page 54
“I see a huge uptake in public awareness and a big investment in companies
                                                    tackling food waste. The hope lies in the fact that in a short space of time
                                                    food waste has gone from a non-issue to a place where you cannot
                                                    be a big company without having a food waste strategy.”

                                                    — Tristram Stuart, food waste campaigner, author of ‘Waste’, and founder of ‘Toast Ale’
                                                    which makes beer from surplus bread

                                                                                                                    900,000 meals end up in
                                                                                                                    the bin at the end of the
                                                                                                                    day because they haven’t
                                                                                                                    been sold145

                                                                                        Food waste is
                                                                                      responsible for
                                                                                       8% of global
          In the spotlight:                                                          greenhouse gas
                                                                                         emissions130
          Rubies in the
          Rubble                                                                                                                    £13billion  worth
                                                                                                                                    of edible food is
                                                                                                                                    thrown out by UK
          Rubies in the Rubble creates ketchups, chutneys and
                                                                                                                                    households   each
          other condiments from surplus fruit and veg that would                                                                    year 146

          otherwise go to waste. They partner with farms in the UK
          to buy surplus wonky veg that the supermarkets don’t
          want. By the end of 2018 Rubies had saved nearly 4.5
          million fruit and vegetables from going to waste on British
          farms144. However, even Rubies has seen supply affected                                                1.4 million bananas are
          due to extreme weather. “Harvests and yields have been                                                 thrown out every day147
          worse than usual over the past year which has resulted in
          fewer surplus crops for us to use and the quality has been
          less usable than previous years,” said Joanna Vierod, Head
          of Retail at Rubies in the Rubble.

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Adaptation

          British growers are already trying to plan to   to combat pest outbreaks and boost
          make their farms more resilient to climate      pollinator numbers152.
          change and extreme weather events, with
          water shortages highlighted as a particular    An alternative to traditional outdoor fruit
          problem area in the UK’s most recently         and vegetable production is vertical
          published climate adaptation strategy. The     farming. It offers the prospect of more
          strategy promises to work to restore natural   efficient use of land and water, greater
          processes within river systems to enhance      control against pests and, if indoors, greater
          water storage capacity and reduce water        resilience to extreme weather and climate
          leakages148.                                   change153. However, indoor farms require
                                                         a replacement for sunlight, with lettuces
          Solutions being trialled by growers include grown in a vertical farm reported to need
          installing new production techniques fourteen times more energy than those
          to conserve moisture, water storage, grown in a traditionally heated greenhouse
          improved irrigation application and greater in the UK154.
          monitoring of soil moisture, said Dr Nicola
          Cannon, Royal Agricultural University. “A
          vital step for all growers is enhancing soil
          organic matter so that soils can better retain
          nutrients and cope with extreme rainfall
          events better by improved water retention,
          which is then beneficial when or if drought
          conditions develop,” she added.

          Many potato farmers are installing reservoirs
          to give their crops a supply of water during
          droughts and shortages. Potato supplies to
          major chip and crisp brands McCain, Tyrrells
          and Walkers have been safeguarded in
          the past with the use of reservoirs149. “We
          encourage farmers to look at the option
          of building on-site storage reservoirs to
          reduce the need for water abstraction,”
          said a spokesperson for the Environment
          Agency. Producers can also experiment
          with alternative varieties, such as drought-
          tolerant peas, which may be more resilient
          to the effects of climate change150.

          Improving soils, more varied rotations,
          addition of dedicated habitat such as pollen
          and nectar mixes and reservoirs designed
          with nature in mind benefit wildlife too151.
          This can potentially help boost production
          by providing reservoirs of natural predators

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