The cost of carrots rose 33% in two years, the highest rise among vegetables as extreme weather caused by climate change, starts to take effect.

British farmers who grow carrots have been struggling with yields, causing the price of the veg to soar by 33% in two years, more than any other fresh veg and potatoes according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Increasing extreme and erratic weather due to climate change is causing changes to the British weather impacting many different crops including carrots.

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Latest  data released by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural affairs in October 2024, revealed that England suffered its second worst harvest on record, following record breaking rain last winter that reduced yields and disrupted farmers’ ability to grow crops. 

Carrots have been a staple in the UK since at least medieval times and even played a role in the war effort when propaganda news reels talked up the vegetable’s alleged power to boost the eyesight of RAF officers.

However, as the climate changes, carrot yields are down. In the past farmers could harvest carrots all year round, but hot and dry summers affect the crop.

Warmer temperatures are causing the veg to “bolt” more regularly. “Bolt” is a plant survival mechanism but it makes the veg inedible. Foodsloods have also ruined crops in recent years.

The carrot is Britain’s major root vegetable with around £290 million of sold annually according to the British Carrot Association (BCA). The BCA says over 700,000 tonnes of carrots are produced each year, up to 100 carrots a year for everyone. 

In the past Britain has been relatively self-sufficient, growing around 97% of our them here. However, as climate change affects yields, we are importing more.

In July 2022 the UK experienced a brief and unprecedented heatwave, and recorded a maximum temperature of 40C for the first time. It was also very dry, in fact July 2022 was the driest July for England since 1935 and the driest July on record for East Anglia, south-east England and southern England.

The UK is also seeing more frequent and intense rainfall and this is bringing a greater risk of flooding. Analysis from World Weather Attribution found that climate change is influencing how much rain falls in the UK during autumn and winter storms. It found that autumn and winter storm rainfall in the UK and Ireland for the 2023-24 season was made around 20% heavier due to human-caused climate change. It also showed the amount of rainfall observed during the season was 10 times more likely. According to the Met Office State of the Climate 2023 report, 5 of the 10 wettest years for the UK have been in the 21st Century and the decade 2014-2023 was 10% wetter than the period 1961-1990.

The Met Office UK State of the Climate Report found that 2023 was the seventh wettest year on record since 1836 and a recently published Met Office review noted that the 2023/2024 storm season was particularly busy, culminating in Storm Lilian in August 2024, the first time ‘L’ was reached in a single storm season since the naming system began in 2015. Further analysis from World Weather Attribution found that Autumn and winter storm rainfall in 2023/24 in the UK and Ireland was made about 20% heavier by human-caused climate change.

Rodger Hobson, carrot farmer in Yorkshire and the chairman of the carrot association, grows 4% of the UK’s carrot crop in the UK and says his farm is typical of other carrot farms across the country. Rodger said: 

“Climate change has significantly impacted the UK weather in recent years – principally in terms of hotter drier summers and milder wetter winters – but also in terms of more extreme weather events – in particular high rainfall events. The floods of winter 2023-24 led to our farm losing 15% of our carrot crop (c. 4,000 tonnes) and the drought of 2022-23 led to a 20% yield reduction. Such events significantly increase our production costs (we have to budget on 20% lower yields to compensate) and necessitate expensive carrot imports from countries like Egypt, Israel and even China. All of this happens when there is a big focus on food inflation and a cost of living crisis.” 

Meteorologist, Gemma Plumb, UK Weather and Climate Lead at Weather Change said:

“Climate change is making our weather here in the UK more extreme and this is having a real impact on the crops we grow, including carrots. Rainfall is becoming more intense and this brings a greater risk of flooding and fields becoming waterlogged. We are also seeing heatwaves occurring more frequently and in July 2022 the UK recorded 40C for the first time. These more frequent and prolonged spells of hot weather have an impact on agriculture.”

Sofie Jenkinson, Co-Director of Round Our Way, an organisation that supports people impacted by climate change in the UK, said:

“Across the country we are seeing people being impacted by the increase in erratic and extreme weather caused by climate change, including the farmers putting food on all our tables. More and more farmers are struggling with being able to harvest their crops and now we are seeing the impact on the great British carrot - a staple for so many of us. We need to see more support for those on the sharp end of climate impacts in the UK and further political action, which is essential in tackling the causes such as emissions, to ensure we don’t see things getting worse in our communities and at our doorstep.”