Impacts of the Iran war and a changing climate on the UK’s food security

The war in Iran now enters its eighth week. Whilst there has been much discussion in the press—and Government action—over rising oil and gas prices, the impact on the food we eat is even more urgent.

Retailers are confident that their supply chains are robust. But consumers have been told to prepare for higher prices and potential shortages, as the Strait of Hormuz is a vital route through which much of our gas, oil and fertiliser passes through. With this closed off for approaching a month now, the British Retail Consortium are starting to sound the alarm.

Cucumbers, tomatoes, chicken and pork are all included in the list of items that could see the highest price spikes or at worst shortages.

War often refocuses efforts to secure our energy and food supplies, given the immediacy of the impacts. But climate scientists and civil society have been warning us about the impact of our warming climate on food security for decades.

A report recently released from the environmental think tank Green Alliance shows that three of the last five cereal harvests in England were the worst on record. The report draws up a series of maps laying out the risk. Some of our most important domestic arable land, like in Lincolnshire and Norfolk, are those most at risk from extreme flooding. And our imports of fruit and vegetables from countries like South Africa and Peru are going to be hit as these countries grapple with a warming climate.

The impact of war and climate change will hit us from the petrol pump to the supermarket, and it’s now more clear than ever that adapting to extreme weather and our reliance on international food and energy markets is the most critical task of this decade.

At Climate Outreach we are regularly testing the public mood on all of this. 68% of us want the Government to be ambitious in responding to climate change. Protecting farmers and our food supply are British people’s top priorities for climate policy.

The Climate Change Committee are releasing their next report Well-Adapted UK on the 20 May, laying bare the extent of our climate risks and strategies to adapt effectively. Five years in the making, we can’t wait another five years to take action.