Delivering a speech on climate change projections for the UK, Secretary of State Michael Gove MP highlighted the growing role farmers will have to play in global food production while still adapting to tackle climate change.

Speaking at the Met Office’s launch of the UK Climate Projections earlier this week, Michael Gove discussed the effects climate change will have on the environment both in the UK and across the globe if measures are not taken to address issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and rising sea levels.

“By 2050, we are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emission by at least 80%, compared to 1990 levels,” said Mr Gove.

“Since 1990 we have cut emissions by 42% – faster than any other G7 nation.”

Commenting on the effects of climate change on the UK, Mr Gove added: “Climate change will manifest itself most acutely in our hydrologic system – the intense rainfall of winter, the arid heat of the summer and rising sea levels will be how we experience climate change most immediately in our everyday lives.”

Effects on agriculture

Gove stressed that as farmers face growing production demands, they must be supported to do so as the UK moves towards a carbon neutral economy.

He added: “On our agricultural land, more extreme weather will harm crop yields and make market prices more volatile. Some parts of the world will cease to be able to produce food because of rising sea levels or a lack of rainfall. UK farmers have the opportunity to play an even more important role in global food production as a result.”

Various ways in which farmers could begin reducing carbon emissions from the sector were highlighted including planting cover crops to reduce carbon emissions from soil, agroforestry to store carbon, reforming fertiliser usage and adopting precision farming and vertical farming practices.

Commenting on Mr Gove’s speech, NFU deputy president Guy Smith noted that it will be vital for farmers to find a balance between producing food while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the coming years.

He said: “When it comes to UK food security in a world where food production will be increasingly challenged by more volatile weather, government should ensure it has the right policies in place to enable home food production, and the British farming industry, to achieve its potential.”