With our memories of summer fading, the realisation is setting in that once again the UK was not granted the picturesque summer we always hope for. In fact, official summer statistics from the Met Office have revealed that summer 2012 was the wettest in a century. The meteorological causes of these weather conditions have been neatly summarised by BBC weatherwise 1 and their implications are being revealed. While poor summers may immediately remind us of cancelled beach visits and muddy festivals, weather conditions this year have affected food production and further still, have led to huge amounts of food wastage. The fact that summer was not the only season in which extreme weather conditions were experienced in the UK this year exacerbates this situation. Record droughts in early spring even led to temporary hosepipe bans across much of the south-east of England. 2
These weather conditions have been disastrous for stable crops, particularly wheat. Wheat yields are down 14.1% on the five year average. 3 The absence of sunshine even dowsed peoples appetites for summer fruits and vegetables resulting in the wastage of fresh produce. 4 Food prices in supermarkets are set to rise as a result of these factors, which is particularly alarming when coupled with the findings of DEFRA’s 2012 Food Statistics Pocketbook. 5 The findings of this document indicate that fruit, meat, dairy and processed foods have all shown over a 30% increase in price between June 2007 and June 2012.
Extreme climatic anomalies are a substantial and growing problem6 and George Monbiot recently outlined the severe implications of these conditions, particularly for the world’s poor.7
This week we have witnessed the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy on the East of the US. Poorer Caribbean nations were also severely impacted and will struggle greatly to recover from the damage caused. 8 Addressing food waste problems within developed nations can help alleviate the impacts of extreme weather events and climate change within poorer nations. A third of the worlds entire food supply, or enough food to feed three billion people! , could be saved by reducing food waste. 9
Considering the climatic conditions we have witnessed in the UK this year, and the lessons learned in previous years, the food industry and government need to reassess the value of the food that we consume. And more importantly, they need to consider the waste they so readily discard, and so many others desperately need.
(1) Wettest Summer for 100 Years. (2012) https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/19504135, accessed October 19th 2012.
(2) Hosepipe Ban. (2012) https://www.hosepipeban.org.uk/, accessed October 19th 2012.
(3) A Mixed Harvest, But Wheat Well Down. (2012) https://www.nfuonline.com/Your-sector/Crops/News/A-mixed-harvest,-but-wheat-well-down/ , Accessed October 10th 2012.
(4) Rain douses appetite for summer salads. (2102) https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jul/10/rain-douses-appetite-summer-salads , July 10th 2012
(5) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. (2012). Food Statistics Pocketbook. https://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-foodfarm-food-pocketbook-2012-121005.pdf , accessed October 19th 2012. p.26
(6) Hensen, J., Sato, M., and Reudy, R.(2012) Perception of climate change. PNAS early edition August 2012.
