The extreme temperatures across the UK over the past few months have created a stark food shortage warning as the farming industries crops have been seriously impacted
One of the UK’s leading supermarkets has made a major change after several heatwaves have led to huge concerns over food shortages.
Waitrose has begun its earliest harvest of wheat and oilseed rape due to the record-breaking temperatures over recent months.
The retailer is the only UK supermarket to own and operate its own farm, the Leckford Estate in Hampshire.
Unprecedented extreme heat has led crops to ripen faster than usual this year, hence the move.
Dave Miles, farm manager at the Leckford Estate said it is a ‘wake-up call’ to the impact of climate change.
He told the Grocery Gazette : “The record-breaking heat we are experiencing is a stark wake-up call to our changing climate.
“Due to these unprecedented temperatures, this is the earliest wheat harvest we have ever seen, and our teams have been working tirelessly to bring the crop in safely.
“It is a powerful reminder of why regenerative farming and farming with nature is so essential. By building healthier soil with high organic matter, we can dramatically increase water retention, keeping crops viable even in extreme drought conditions.”
It is estimated that 9m tonnes of crops across the UK and EU were destroyed due to recent conditions, which could have a major impact on the price of food.
Due to this it could see countries producing their smallest harvest since 2018.
The National Drought Group are stepping up as areas of the country move closer to drought with the recent extreme weather having a severe impact on our environment and affecting water supplies and food production.
Paul Tompkins, Deputy President at the National Farmers Union, said: “Farmers and growers across the country are working around the clock to harvest crops which have come early, keep fruit and vegetables watered, and care for their livestock.
“Parts of the country, particularly in the east and south, have seen exceptionally low rainfall this spring and summer, creating real challenges for farm businesses. For many arable farmers, this could be another difficult and expensive harvest after extreme weather impacts in both 2024 and 2025 which saw both drought and flood.”
Waitrose’s Leckford Estate spans across a whopping 2,800 acres and is used as a trial area for sustainable farming practices to ensure the supermarket’s commitment to regenerative agriculture is practised.
In 2025, Waitrose invested £1million and launched a new collaboration with the Soil Association Exchange and Regenified in a bid to develop its support for regenerative farming practices.
The Leckford Estate has been practising regenerative agriculture methods since 2020 as part of its push towards eco-friendly farming.
