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Wildfire Alert Lands On Millions Of Phones As Drought Squeezes Fresh Produce Supply
Millions of phones across England and Wales sounded on Friday evening as the Government triggered its Emergency Alert system over wildfire risk — a warning that lands on a fresh produce sector already reckoning with the same heat and drought that turned the countryside into fuel. The alert was issued on a rolling basis from 7.01pm on Friday 14 August. It read: "There is a very high risk of wildfires nationally. Residents, landowners and visitors should not undertake any activ
Supermarkets Stock More Scottish Food As Farmers' Shelf Audits Bite
Scotland's biggest supermarkets are putting more home-grown food on their shelves, according to the latest findings from ShelfWatch, the retail monitoring campaign run by NFU Scotland. The campaign, launched in 2024 and now in its third cycle, sends auditors into stores to check the origin, sourcing and labelling of own-label products across eight retailers: Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Lidl, M&S Food, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco. NFU Scotland says more than 95,000 own-label produ
Government Unveils £65m Drought Package As Growers Battle Water Shortages
Farmers and growers across England are to receive £65 million in additional support as the government responds to prolonged dry weather, mounting pressure on water supplies and the driest July on record. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the package following a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee, COBR, examining the national impact of extreme heat, wildfires and drought. The measures are intended to help agricultural businesses secure water for crops
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£1.9bn Opportunity To Expand Homegrown Fruits And Vegetables
Raising domestic horticulture production to replace half of the fruits and vegetables imported by the UK could return national food self-sufficiency to levels last seen in 2000, and generate £1.9 billion for British producers, according to new analysis from Green Alliance. The report estimates that a major expansion of homegrown fresh produce could boost the UK to 66% self-sufficiency in fruits and vegetables, and only require an additional 46,509 hectares of horticultural pr
British Berry Growers Urge Long-Term Water Management Approach
Investment in water storage and efficiency is helping many UK berry growers maintain production through this year’s exceptionally hot and dry summer, but the industry says more needs to be done to enable businesses to prepare for future weather extremes. British Berry Growers (BBG), which represents around 95% of the UK’s commercial berry growers, says investment in on-farm reservoirs, rainwater storage, and water-efficient production systems has strengthened the sector’s abi
Fierce Supermarket Competition Keeps Lid On UK Food Inflation
Expectations of a sharp acceleration in UK food inflation following the latest surge in energy costs have so far failed to materialise, with intense supermarket competition and tighter cost management helping retailers and suppliers to absorb much of the pressure. The food industry warned earlier this year that higher energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran could drive food price inflation up to 10% by Christmas. Instead, annual inflation for food and non-alcoholic bever
Heat And Drought To Push Food Prices Higher Amid ‘Worst Crisis In Decades’
Extreme heat and prolonged drought across the UK and mainland Europe are raising fresh concerns over the availability and cost of fruit and vegetables, with the effects potentially extending into 2027. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) claims price rises are “inevitable” as increasingly volatile weather disrupts agricultural production and puts pressure on supplies of key commodities. Almost three-quarters of England (71.3%) is now in drought as conditions worsen following
Calls Grow For Planning Reforms To Boost On-Farm Water Storage
Farming organisations and MPs are urging the government to reduce planning barriers to on-farm reservoirs as drought conditions spread across the UK. The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says only 34 on-farm reservoirs have been completed over the past five years, despite increasing pressure on farms to secure reliable water supplies, reports Farmers Guide. With three droughts recorded in the UK over the past five years, the case for greater water storage capacity
Branston Puts Potatoes At Heart Of Lincolnshire Summer Holiday Clubs
Potato supplier Branston is backing children’s food education and nutrition across Lincolnshire this summer through cookery sessions and potato donations as part of the county’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Image: Branston The company is funding 30 cookery sessions delivered by children’s cooking school Cook Stars, while also donating potatoes to holiday clubs across northern Lincolnshire and Gainsborough, reports Grocery Gazette. The government-funded HAF pro
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