Should We Be Concerned About Our Strawberries?

On a summer’s day, there’s nothing like tucking into a punnet of sweet, juicy strawberries. But the future of our beloved fruit could be in jeopardy, as a combination of climate change and rising costs is causing significant problems across the industry.

The UK’s Berry Industry Is Under Threat – Here’s Why

Climate Change

It’s a tough time for the strawberry industry, according to a number of new studies highlighting growing problems across the board. One of the biggest issues producers face is climate change, with new research from the University of Waterloo predicting yields may dramatically reduce if global warming continues in its current trajectory. The study concluded that a rise in temperature of 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 degrees Celsius) could cause strawberry production to reduce by up to 40 percent by 2026. 

‘This research shows how climate change can directly impact the foods we love, emphasizing the importance of sustainable farming practices to maintain a stable food supply for everyone,”’ said Dr. Poornima Unnikrishnan, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Systems Design Engineering at Waterloo. 

Researchers did, however, offer suggestions for initiatives which could help mitigate the problems, including optimising irrigation to allow adequate water supply during heatwaves, and installing shade structures to assist with heat stress. ‘We hope the better understanding of the influence of rising temperatures on crop yield will help in the development of sustainable agriculture responses from the government and farmers,’ Ponnambalam said. ‘There is an urgent need for farmers to adopt new strategies to cope with global warming.’

Strawberries aren’t alone in their plight: numerous foods and drinks are being impacted by climate change. There has been much discussion around the soaring price of olive oil lately, which is a direct result of rising temperatures, and industries including coffee and chocolate are being greatly impacted.

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Economic Issues

British growers have also reported issues with production and costing. According to a survey by British Berry Growers (BBG), two-fifths of British growers of strawberries and raspberries could go out of business by the end of 2026. While production costs have risen by 30 percent for growers, the BBG says, retail costs have not increased, meaning growers are not getting their fair share of return.

The BBG warned of ‘a future massive reduction in the supply of fresh British berries’, with more than a third of those surveyed saying they are considering cutting berry production – or even moving out of berry farming entirely. 

Nick Marston, the chair of BBG, said: ‘Supermarkets are starting to listen. They are recognising that growers need a fair return to cover the increased costs of production, otherwise they’ll simply move out of berry growing. However, relationships with supermarkets have been hurt by the lack of support in recent years – 39 percent of our growers say their relationship with retailers has never been this bad.

‘We must take this survey as a wake-up call and a sign to take urgent action. The future of this great sector hangs in the balance. It would be a travesty to lose British berries. We need support from retailers in the form of fair returns, but we also need support from the government to ensure we have an uninterrupted supply of pickers during our peak season.’