This Is Not A Drill: Chips Are Getting Shorter Because Of Climate Change

Climate change also poses a “major threat” to British carrots, wine and other fruit and vegetables, the Climate Coalition said, with yields of carrots and onions also dropping due to warmer than average temperatures. Meanwhile, unseasonably cold weather last spring had an impact on English vineyards, which reported up to 75% of their crop being damaged by frosts.

“Losing an inch off our chips is no laughing matter,” Clara Goldsmith, director of The Climate Coalition, said. “We should be doing all we can to help safeguard our homegrown fruit and vegetables for future generations.”

Michael Gove, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, said the government would reward farmers who reduce their emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change through its Environmental Land Management scheme.

“High-quality, locally-grown fruit and veg are a crucial component of British diets. Yet, as we saw with last year’s drought, this nutritious food, and the livelihoods of the hard-working farmers who grow it, are increasingly threatened by more extreme weather and increased pests and diseases as a result of climate change,” Gove said.