UK drought raises food security fears for farmers

UK drought is raising food security concerns as farmers report lower yields after the driest July ever recorded by the Met Office.

In Suffolk, farmer John Pawsey said yields for crops including oats, wheat and vetch were 25 to 30 percent lower after weeks of dry weather. He said an entire quinoa crop failed because of a lack of rain.

Nicola Cannon, a professor at the Royal Agricultural College, said this year's pea yield was only about half of the desired level, after very little moisture since March. She said buying seasonal British produce would give farmers more certainty to invest in adapting.

Food security expert Timothy Benton said farming systems would have to change as climate impacts grow, arguing for less intensive and more diverse farming. National Farmers' Union president Tom Bradshaw told the BBC that shortages of some foods may result if drought conditions continue.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham's spokesperson said this week that “food security is national security” and said the government had promised record investment in water infrastructure, including nine new reservoirs. Pawsey warned that if weather trends continue, some farmers could go out of business unless prices rise or government support continues.