Supermarkets, farmers demand bold action after £390m drought hit

By mid-2026, the UK potato industry underscored water security as a linchpin for sustaining and expanding domestic production amid escalating climate volatility. Delegates at the Potato Industry Growth Summit stressed the necessity of long-term water planning, streamlined reservoir licensing, and elevating agricultural water access to a national food-security priority. Recognizing that potato crops demand approximately 350 mm of water per growing season, and with domestic supply having slipped from 90% to 71% of UK demand since 2000, the summit called for targeted investments in water storage, irrigation efficiency, and resilient potato varieties to bolster grower confidence and industry growth.

The record-breaking drought and heatwaves of summer 2026 brutally exposed the fragility of the UK’s food system, with two-thirds of England declared in drought and the nation enduring its hottest, driest summer on record. This climatic assault inflicted an estimated £390 million loss in arable farmers' turnover and slashed potential yields by around 2.5 million tonnes, with potato, vegetable, cereal, and oilseed crops bearing the brunt. Jamie Burrows, chair of the NFU crops board, lamented that 'most arable farmers can’t irrigate their crops,' spotlighting the urgent need for drought-resilient crop varieties to safeguard future harvests.

Water scarcity’s ripple effects extended beyond crops to meat production, where processing plants like the 2 Sisters poultry facility in Devon faced operational challenges threatening food safety and animal welfare. Tony Goodger of AIMS condemned the water shortage as 'unacceptable,' advocating for the inclusion of meat and poultry processing in government water policy discussions. Meanwhile, reservoir levels at critical agricultural sites plummeted below 35% of typical seasonal capacity—the lowest in over two decades—forcing farms to ration water and precipitating a projected 15% to 20% shortfall in domestic vegetable supplies, notably potatoes, carrots, and brassicas, which in turn drove wholesale prices up by 12% within weeks.

The drought’s impact on soil health compounds the crisis, as moisture deficits degrade soil structure, increasing runoff and diminishing water retention capacity. Agronomists warn that a single season of normal rainfall will not reverse this damage, threatening future planting cycles and prolonging agricultural recovery. This systemic vulnerability has galvanized the National Farmers' Union to call for urgent government intervention, including emergency subsidies and investments in drought-resistant crops and advanced irrigation infrastructure, aiming to build resilience against the relentless pressures of climate-driven water scarcity.

By mid-2026, supermarket leaders including the chief executives of Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and the Co-op united in urging the UK government to set legally binding targets to boost domestic fruit and vegetable production by 2040, aiming to reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on imports that are increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks. This coalition of over 100 organizations emphasized that food security must no longer be an afterthought, warning that each new geopolitical or climate disruption strains a food system with diminishing resilience, and called for mechanisms to elevate food as a government priority.

Industry voices have rallied behind the proposed Good Food Bill, which would legally mandate local authorities to develop contingency plans ensuring food supply continuity during extreme weather events and require ministers to integrate food security considerations across policy domains. This legislative push reflects a broader demand for government collaboration and investment, as highlighted by NFU crops board chair Jamie Burrows, who stressed that partnering with industry to innovate resilient crop varieties and establish fair market practices is essential to fortify domestic food security against climate change.

The acute water scarcity challenges exposed by the 2026 drought have intensified calls from industry leaders for streamlined water licensing and targeted regulatory support, particularly for critical food processing sectors. Tony Goodger of AIMS spotlighted the water shortage crisis at the 2 Sisters poultry processing plant, labeling it 'unacceptable' due to its implications for operational continuity, food safety, and animal welfare, thereby urging Minister Emma Hardy MP to engage more comprehensively with meat and poultry processing stakeholders to safeguard supply chains.

Experts like Huw Kinsey of Proxima underscore the UK's precarious position, importing approximately 78% of its fruit and vegetables and facing the risk of simultaneous climate disruptions across multiple supplier regions. This vulnerability reinforces the industry's call for robust government-led initiatives, including the Good Food Bill and legal production frameworks, to secure and strengthen domestic food production capacity as a bulwark against global supply shocks.

In August 2026, the UK government unveiled a comprehensive £65 million support package aimed at assisting farmers grappling with severe drought conditions, reflecting a dual focus on immediate relief and long-term climate resilience. This initiative not only provides financial aid to mitigate the current impacts on domestic food production but also strategically promotes sustainable farming practices, streamlines reservoir construction approvals, and enhances water access during dry spells, signaling a proactive approach to securing the nation’s agricultural future amid escalating climate challenges.

The UK's heavy reliance on imports for fruit and vegetables—around 80% of fruit and 47% of vegetables—poses a significant risk to food security due to the climate vulnerability of 18 out of its top 20 overseas suppliers. This exposure not only threatens affordability but also underscores the urgent need to boost domestic horticulture to mitigate supply chain disruptions and price shocks.

Despite the UK's capacity to grow many popular fruits such as apples, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and pears, domestic self-sufficiency remains below 40% for most of these crops. This gap reveals substantial untapped potential to increase local production, which could raise food self-sufficiency to 66% by replacing half of the currently imported produce suitable for UK growth, requiring less than 50,000 hectares of additional land.

Expanding the horticulture sector offers a strategic economic opportunity, with projections indicating billions of pounds could be added to the UK economy, over 20,000 new jobs created, and farm profits increased by 3%. This growth not only enhances food security but also promotes public health through higher fruit and vegetable consumption, positioning horticulture as a vital pillar for sustainable development.

Government investment and policy support are critical to unlocking this potential, as emphasized by Anna Taylor of The Food Foundation, who calls for funding to increase domestic production, support farmers in adapting to climate change, and boost consumption of fruit and vegetables. The forthcoming Horticulture Sector Growth Plan must set long-term statutory targets to ensure affordable, healthy food, fair prices for farmers, and resilience against changing weather patterns, thereby strengthening local food systems.