Adapting to the unpredictable climate

The UK has experienced a particularly volatile climate this year. We had a very wet March, followed by a dry period in May and June. We then returned to very soggy conditions in July and early August.

These unpredictable conditions have made planting and maintaining crop quality extremely challenging but not impossible. However, if variable and unexpected weather conditions become the new normal, growers will need to adapt crop husbandry to ensure future successful harvests.

We all witnessed on the news the extreme heatwave that affected much of the rest of Europe this summer. Similar episodes could easily reach the UK in another year, putting the stored water reserves for irrigation under considerable pressure. This would affect crop quality, yield and harvest dates.

The horticultural industry has survived the unpredictable weather conditions this year; still, with the possibility of increased volatility, food supply chain members will need to adapt their methods to meet demand at an adequate quality.