2nd October 2026
This summer will hopefully prove the impetus needed for greater adaptation in the face of climate change both within the farming and food industry and for us as consumers.
We will all need to be thinking about eating and therefore growing different crops, and less of some and more of others. For farmers it will also be about different methods of farming.
Ongoing research and field evidence points to the importance of maintaining good soils. Soils that are full of organic material and active life forms – from worms to mycorrhizal fungi – are soils that retain more moisture and nutrients for crops.
Shading the soil – and often the crops too – helps reduce moisture loss and sunburn, and creates a micro climate so that moisture returns back into the soil.
Many farmers are increasing water storage, creating ponds, wetlands and reservoirs.
Trialing different crops is also happening, but is sometimes hindered by the unpredictability of the weather. A hot summer preceded by a dry spring will favour different crops from a hot summer preceded by a wet spring.
As consumers we will need to be willing to accept different fruits and vegetables in our shopping baskets – and more willing to eat seasonally. We may too want to be adaptive in our gardens, ensuring good soil, using shade to advantage, trying different crops – and different flowering and herbaceous plants. We too can invest in extra water butts to store more water.
Further reading:
- https://esgnerd.substack.com/p/uk-drought-harvest-2026
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/mycorrhizal-fungi
- https://www.nffn.org.uk/resources/how-nffn-farmers-are-handling-drought-and-water-management
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/14/crops-beaver-dams-uk-farmers-drought-heatwaves?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
- https://adas.co.uk/projects/investigating-how-uk-agriculture-can-adapt-to-drought-extreme-heat-and-wildfires/
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/garden-design/drought-resistant-gardening
