'A shocker’: England experiences second worst harvest ever

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🗞️ Driving the news: England has experienced its second-worst harvest on record in 2024 due to relentless wet weather, severely affecting wheat, oats, and other cereal crops
With key harvests down 21% from 2023, farmers face an estimated £600 million loss

🔭 The context: Climate change has caused wetter winters, leading to poor crop yields and delayed planting seasons
England's developing wine industry and pumpkin harvests have been particularly affected, with some pumpkin crops failing just ahead of Halloween

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The impacts of climate change on food production threaten food security and increase prices, exacerbating the UK's cost-of-living crisis
Continued climate instability could lead to more severe disruptions in agriculture

⏭️ What's next: Farmers and producers are urging the government to support sustainable farming practices and enhance food security strategies in the upcoming October budget, amid concerns over potential subsidy cuts

💬 One quote: "This year’s harvest was a shocker, and climate change is to blame" – Tom Lancaster, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

📈 One stat: England’s wheat production fell to just 10 million tonnes in 2024, a 21% drop from 2023

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