How Climate-Induced Food Shortages May Lead to Civil Unrest
Farmers are warning that the UK could face food shortages in the next decade due to increased extreme weather conditions, potentially leading to civil unrest. This insight comes from a study conducted by several universities, including Anglia Ruskin, York, Bristol, East Anglia, and City, on the factors contributing to food insecurity.
According to the research, three-quarters of farmers believe that extreme weather events pose the biggest risk to food shortages in the future. This concern outweighed other factors such as war, trade deals, and rising production costs. The study also highlighted the importance of total food output over food distribution.
Will White, sustainable farming coordinator at Sustain, emphasized the urgent need to address the threats to food security posed by climate change. He stressed the interconnectedness of food security and a healthy planet, calling for continued investment in nature-friendly farming to safeguard long-term food security.
Arable farmer and chief executive of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Martin Lines, echoed these sentiments, noting that farmers are facing unprecedented weather challenges and can expect more of the same, if not worse, in the future. He emphasized that climate change and nature loss are the biggest threats to food security, emphasizing the need for support to make farming practices more resilient.
Recent data shows a decline in UK vegetable production and a significant decrease in the number of breeding sheep, cattle, and pigs. This highlights the challenges faced by farmers and the importance of addressing climate change and nature loss to ensure future food security.
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.