UK heatwave to hit food supplies
Industry lobby warns high temperatures could worsen Brexit disruption and hit stockpiling efforts
Britain’s record-breaking heatwave is set to restrict food supplies later in the year, just as the government prepares to stockpile food in the even of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
Ian Wright, director general of the Food and Drink Federation, the main industry lobby group, said Britain’s long spell of hot, dry weather would start to affect supplies in the autumn, and that if Britain left the EU next March without a deal, disruption at customs and border crossings would have an impact on food imports.
“We’re going through the most extraordinary summer and we’re already seeing farmers struggling with crops, with feed for ruminants [cattle and sheep],” Wright told BBC radio. “There are vegetable shortages because there hasn’t been enough rain.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His warning came a day after the new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, told MPs the government was putting plans in motion to ensure “adequate food” supplies would continue if Britain crashes out of the EU without a new trade agreement.
About 40% of the food Britons consume is imported, says Reuters, “the vast majority of it from or via the EU.”
Amid continued uncertainty about the state of Brexit negotiations, many businesses will seek to get goods across the border before the 29 March exit date to avoid disruption from customs changes. Some will also plan to buy further in advance so they are less affected by currency fluctuations.
Earlier this year the British Retail Consortium said a no-deal Brexit would clog up food supplies, raise prices and throw retailers out of business. Wright echoed that warning and said a hard Brexit would inevitably lead to some food shortages.
“We saw just a few weeks ago with the carbon dioxide shortage how a random shock event can effect supply and we would see that again,” he said, adding “our shoppers would not see no food but they would see shortages.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Oysters from New York's past could shore up its future
Under the Radar Project aims to seed a billion oysters in the city's waterways to improve water quality, fight coastal erosion and protect against storm surges
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 24, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - taped bananas, flying monkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published