Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit

First, I want to find out what food we grow and farm in the UK now and how that might change in the future.

Tom Lancaster is Head of Land, Food and Farming at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

Tom Lancaster, when we look at the UK, what kind of farms have we got doing what kinds of things across the country?

Farming is about 70% of the UK land area.

Extreme heat and drought during summer twenty twenty-six resulted in UK dairy farmers producing around two hundred and forty million fewer liters of milk than expected between May and August, equivalent to around four days of normal milk production.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, the ECIU, estimated the lost milk was worth more than eighty-three million pounds to farmers with poor grazing conditions, reduced grass growth, and heat stress on cows contributing to lower production.

Some farmers have been forced to house cattle and start using winter forage earlier than planned, increasing feed, housing, and labor costs.

Despite the summer shortfall, UK milk production could still reach near record levels in twenty twenty-six due to stronger production earlier in the year.

Achieving this transition will require significant investment in the delivery of major infrastructure projects.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit estimates that reaching net zero will require around two hundred and sixty-two gigawatts of capacity and up to four hundred and fifty-five billion in investment.

Around two-thirds of this pipeline is already under development or construction, highlighting both the scale of ambition and the challenge ahead.

In this episode, we focus on two essential elements of that transition: transmission networks and large-scale renewable energy projects, particularly offshore wind.

UK potato growers could be facing losses of almost £170 million because of this summer's heatwaves and drought.

That's according to new analysis from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a not-for-profit organisation which looks at the impacts of climate change.

Add that to crop losses across Europe's main potato-growing countries, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and we could be looking at 3.5 million tonnes fewer potatoes getting into the shops.

Well, as we've reported this summer, potato growers have struggled to keep their crops irrigated.

Tom Rees in Pembrokeshire with BBC Wales reporter Gary Owen.

Well, although parts of the country are feeling decidedly autumnal now, yesterday's National Drought Group meeting confirmed that the Midlands and the south of England are still subject to drought status and the north of England remains in prolonged dry weather.

Tom Lancaster is land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

He told me why potatoes in particular have struggled so badly.

That's right, Alex.

An Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit analysis says extreme summer heat and drought destroyed roughly 3.1 million tons of potatoes across four European countries.

The countries are Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The value of losses is between 400 million and 620 million euros, or 459 million to 688 million American dollars.

According to the Financial Times, extreme weather wiped out about 3.1 million tons of potatoes.

according to analysis by the nonprofit Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

It's one of my favorite units.

That's in addition to roughly three and a half million tons who are not grown this year because there was a bumper harvest last year.

Well, apparently nothing is sacred when it comes to price rises, and that includes the cost of potatoes.

New research from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a non-profit UK food research group, says that potato production across Europe has suffered from reduced planting and extreme heat.

Ireland has not escaped, with the Irish Farmers Association reporting that potato yields here are down by about 30%.

This means that customers will likely see the price of potatoes and potato products rise.

Europe could see one of its smallest ever potato harvests.

Research from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit suggests the summer heat is likely to cut crop yields by about three and a half million tons.

Bloomberg's James Wilcock has more.

more.It's a hot potato issue.