‘Summer was a wake-up call, winter could be dire’ warning over food supplies

This summer’s droughts and wildfires have highlighted Wales’s reliance on imported fruit and vegetables, while winter flooding could further disrupt supplies. Food-growing advocates say expanding local production would make the system more resilient to climate change and other disruptions.

Wales imports most of its fruit and vegetables, and only 6% of produce served in schools is grown there. Although 90% of the country is used for agriculture, about 0.1% is used for horticulture; Our Food Trust aims to establish 100 farms for local markets. At Wern Farm, grower Lydia Dibben produces 50 vegetable boxes a week on just over an acre, but growers say access to land and affordable homes remain major barriers.