Farmers in the UK and France say drought, extreme heat and wildfires are damaging crops faster than farms can adapt, threatening both food production and the economic viability of businesses. The pressures are pushing up costs, reducing yields and increasing concern that food prices may rise as water supplies become less reliable.

Norfolk farmer Tim Young says his onion yield is 35% below last year’s after heat and drought, while his records show rainfall over the past six years has been about two-thirds of earlier levels. Half of England has been declared in drought, July may be the driest on record after winter flooding, and regulators warn that farm reservoirs in drought areas could run dry in August; Riverford says all but one of its reservoirs are already empty.