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 ability to cope with prolonged dry conditions.

“British berry growers have invested heavily over many years to become more resilient to periods of drought,” commented Nick Marston, Chair of British Berry Growers.

Despite this, the organisation says growers face different levels of water pressure depending on their location and individual circumstances. 

The trade body argues that planning restrictions, the high capital cost of water infrastructure, and the existing abstraction licensing system could all limit further investment in safeguarding British food production.

To that end, BBG is calling for government action in four key areas.

1. Grants that recognise the significant cost of modern horticultural water infrastructure; 

2. A planning system that allows on-farm reservoirs to be developed more quickly, including where existing restrictions are considered disproportionate; 

3. Reforms to water regulation and abstraction licensing to make better use of winter flows and periods of heavy rainfall; and 

4. Measures to ensure food production is given appropriate priority during drought conditions.

BBG’s 2025 Sustainability Report, which is based on more than half of the UK’s berry production, highlighted that 61% of growers had already invested in on-farm reservoirs or rainwater storage. 

Added to that, every grower surveyed had a water efficiency plan in place, while 65% said they had reduced water use by an average of 16% over the previous three years. 

Since then, Marston says berry producers across the UK have continued to invest as climate pressures have intensified.

“Those investments are helping many growers continue producing high-quality British fruit despite one of the hottest, driest summers on record,” he pointed out. 

“However, the picture is mixed across the country, with some businesses now coming under increasing pressure.”

Having demonstrated that investment in water resilience works, Marston argues that the next step is enabling more businesses to make those investments to continue supplying high-quality British berries for consumers in the years ahead. 

“That means Government grants to support high-value water infrastructure, streamlined planning for on-farm reservoirs, modernised abstraction licensing so more winter and high-rainfall water can be stored, and recognition that food production must be a priority when water resources come under pressure,” Marston stressed.

Increasing the ability of farms to capture and store water during wetter periods could ease demand on water resources during extended dry spells, according to BBG.

The grower body argues that a longer-term approach to water management will become increasingly important as the frequency of extreme heat and drought rises.

This, in turn, will help growers maintain reliable supplies of British strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, while supporting the UK’s wider capacity to produce fresh food.