Water-sharing agreements between neighbouring farms could also help safeguard production during times of drought, says a climate change expert. UK farming must become more resilient to increasingly frequent droughts, with better soil management and more on-farm reservoirs, according to University of East Anglia professor Neil Ward.
“Agriculture and the food system are not well enough prepared for the climate change we will face over the coming decades,” said Prof Ward, from UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences. “We need to build resilience into farming systems.”
Financial hit
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit has estimated a £300-£400 million financial hit for the arable sector alone. Grass and forage growth has also been impacted, meaning livestock farmers will have to buy in more animal feed. More water storage is needed to better cope with pressures including climate change, biodiversity loss and food security – and help overcome restrictions on water abstraction for irrigation.
Prof Ward’s research suggests UK agriculture needs change on a scale and at a pace not seen since the Second World War. This would include changes to production, land use and diets, he said.
To adapt and mitigate climate change will require significant change across our food system, including how and what we produce, how we best use land, and what we eat. Improving soil health could help farms withstand dry periods.
“This involves building up the amount of decomposed plant and animal material, which turns soil into a better ‘sponge’ that can capture and hold more water during wet periods and release it more slowly during droughts.” More storage would provide another buffer. “Farmers are calling for more flexibility in being able to build on-farm reservoirs,” Prof Ward added. “Groups of farmers could establish or strengthen water sharing arrangements.”