An expert discusses the potential for UK farmers to increase potato production by 2025 amid ongoing challenges
Newcastle: Over the last 25 years, the area for potato crops in the UK has really shrunk. It’s down from about 150,000 hectares.
Now, the UK is the third biggest net importer of food in the world, just behind China and Japan.
Expert Bruce Jobson thinks there’s a chance farmers might look to grow more potatoes by Autumn 2025. It’s a big change from the 1700s when the UK was a top producer.
Bruce knows his stuff when it comes to agriculture. His company, Bernicia Media, predicted that the 2023 Autumn potato crop would hit a record low of around 90,000 to 100,000 hectares.
He pointed to bad weather, low prices, and rising costs as the main culprits. He feels that the UK’s food security has taken a hit due to political and economic choices.
The war in Ukraine has made things worse, with prices for essentials like olive oil and fertilizer skyrocketing.
Bruce mentioned that governments, including the UK, didn’t see the global supply and price issues coming. Ukraine is a major player in potato farming.
Over the last 40 years, UK food security has been on the decline, even as the population grew by 20%. Self-sufficiency in food has dropped by 30% during that time.
Back in 1980, the UK was 80% self-sufficient in food. Now, estimates suggest it’s only about 50-55% self-sufficient.
This decline didn’t happen overnight. Successive governments and supermarkets have played a role by importing cheaper food and pushing for globalization.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that they’re committed to farmers, investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years for sustainable food production.
But Bruce argues that lessons from World War Two haven’t been learned. Food rationing lasted for nine years after the war ended in 1945.
He pointed out that 50 years ago, the UK potato crop covered 250,000 hectares, and the country was nearly 95% self-sufficient in potatoes. Now, it’s only about 63% self-sufficient, a significant drop in less than 45 years.
