In response to the UK's increasingly unpredictable climate, there have been calls for the next government to formulate a comprehensive strategy to ensure food security. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs revealed a decline in vegetable and fruit production in 2023, with vegetable yields dropping by 4.9% to 2.2 mln tonnes and fruit production decreasing by 12% to 585,000 tonnes.
Adverse weather conditions during the autumn and winter seasons resulted in a 3.1% reduction in the planted area for brassicas, affecting broccoli and cauliflower yields by 0.4% and 9.2% respectively. Onion and carrot productions also saw a decrease, with onion volumes down by 13% and carrot yields falling by 7.2%. The necessity for a long-term, legally binding plan to address these challenges and regulate supermarket and supplier practices has been emphasized. Furthermore, the potential for growth in the UK horticulture sector is acknowledged, calling for government investment to support a horticulture strategy that aligns with sector ambitions.
Source: headtopics.com