A major change has been announced by a UK supermarket due to the extreme heat over the past few months amid concerns of food shortages.
Waitrose has started its earliest ever harvest of wheat and oilseed rape because of the impact recent heatwaves have had on crops.
The supermarket is the only UK supermarket to own and operate its own farm, the Leckford Estate in Hampshire.
The change comes as scorching temperatures mean that crops have ripened faster than usual.
Dave Miles, farm manager at the Leckford Estate claimed the heat and impact it has had on the estate serve as a ‘stark wake-up call’ about the impact of climate change.
Miles 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.”
The UK is not the only country to face fears regarding food stock. Following the recent conditions across Europe it is estimated that that 9m tonnes of crops across the UK and EU were destroyed.
This destruction could lead to food shortages as countries may be producing their smallest harvest since 2018.
A lack of produce is also likely to drive the cost of items up for consumers.
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.
Last year, 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.