LONDON: The United Kingdom is heading towards its fifth heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach 36°C in parts of England next week. The prolonged heat has also raised concerns about agriculture and food security.
Frittenden in Kent recorded 30.6°C on Sunday. As a result, the UK has now experienced 35 days with temperatures reaching at least 30°C somewhere in the country this year. This surpassed the previous record of 34 days, set in 1995.
**Temperatures Set to Rise Across England**
Forecasters expect temperatures to increase further next week. Parts of East Anglia and southeast England could reach 36°C by Thursday. Monday will likely bring cooler conditions before temperatures rise again.
Meanwhile, farmers are facing serious challenges because of prolonged dry weather. The Met Office recorded its driest July on record in England, increasing pressure on agricultural production.
Suffolk farmer John Pawsey said drought conditions severely affected his crops. He reported that oat, wheat and vetch yields were between 25% and 30% lower than expected. Moreover, he warned that repeated extreme weather events are creating uncertainty for farmers.
**Farmers Seek New Ways to Adapt**
Pawsey said farmers must adapt to increasingly difficult climate conditions. His organic farm has already introduced crops such as fava beans and chickpeas, which can better tolerate hotter and drier weather.
He also uses farming techniques that combine different crops in the same fields. According to Pawsey, such methods can improve resilience and help farmers manage changing conditions.
Meanwhile, food security expert Timothy Benton urged farmers to adopt less intensive and more diverse farming systems. He said Britain must reduce its dependence on imports and invest more in agricultural innovation.
Benton warned that climate impacts will continue increasing. Therefore, he said food production systems must change to withstand future challenges.
The latest heatwave has consequently renewed concerns over Britain’s food security. Experts say stronger government support and agricultural innovation will remain essential as extreme weather becomes more frequent.
