Most of England's staple crops grow in drought-risk areas, analysis finds

Most of the staple crops that feed the United Kingdom, including wheat, barley, potatoes and sugar beet, are grown in parts of England at moderate to very high risk of drought, according to an analysis by the nature-focused investment fund Rebalance Earth.

The fund found that 77% of England's wheat, 75% of its barley, 74% of its oilseed rape, 70% of its sugar beet and 67% of its potatoes grow in such areas. About a quarter of staple crops face acute drought risk, including 30% of wheat and barley, and 81% of England's fresh produce is concentrated in places already under water stress.

Kirsty Wilman, the fund's chief operating and financial officer, said drought gets less attention than flooding but brings "lower yields, strained supply chains and higher prices in all of our shopping baskets."

The pressure is heaviest in some of England's most productive farmland, including East Anglia and Kent. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board said in its final 2026 harvest report that British wheat, spring barley and oat volumes were below historical averages.

On the Elveden estate in Suffolk, one of England's largest commercial farms, manager Andrew Blenkiron said the land had been in drought conditions three years out of five. He argued the country must use water better to keep farming productive land: "If we didn't grow on this land that is totally suitable for it, we would just import more and let other people deplete their natural resources."

This brief is based on reporting by Joanna Partridge, published Sept. 27, 2026, by The Guardian. Read the original: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/27/most-of-uks-essential-food-supply-grown-in-drought-risk-areas-report-warns