UK 4: Agriculture and Climate Change

Etymological origin of "agriculture"

Comes from Latin "ager" (field) and "colo" (to cultivate).

General definition of agriculture

The practice of cultivating soil, growing crops, or raising livestock for human use.

Broader economic definition of agriculture

Includes the fishing and forestry sectors.

Definition of food crops

Edible plants grown and harvested for human or animal food.

Examples of cereals

Wheat, maize (corn), rice, barley, oats, rye.

Meaning of "corn" in British English

Usually means "cereal" rather than "maize".

Examples of non-food/industrial crops

Fibre crops (cotton, hemp, flax, wood pulp) and ornamental crops (flowers, trees).

Definition of market gardening

Intensive, near-town production of vegetables and fruits for local markets.

Definition of horticulture

Cultivation of plants in gardens or market gardens (from Latin "hortus" meaning garden).

Definition of cash crops

Crops grown for sale and profit rather than subsistence.

Economic weight of agriculture in the UK GDP

Accounts for only 0.6% of the UK's GDP.

Employment share of agriculture in the UK

Represents about 1% of total employment (roughly 453,000 workers).

Definition of food security

A country's ability to secure a nutritious and sufficient food supply through domestic production or stable trade.

UK domestic food self-sufficiency rate in 2024

57% came from British farms (25% EU, 18% rest of the world).

UK trade balance in food products

Net importer of wine, cheese, eggs, and meat; net exporter of whisky, breakfast cereals, milk, and salmon.

Proportion of UK land used for agriculture

About 69% of land in the UK (17 million hectares).

Definition of arable farming

Cultivation of land not too rocky, hilly, or arid, mostly for growing crops (from Latin "arare" meaning to plough).

Share of cereals in UK croppable area

Approximately 50%.

Definition of pastoral farming

The rearing of animals for meat or animal by-products (dairy, eggs, wool).

Definition of aquafarming

The farming of seafood, including fish, shrimps, molluscs, and aquatic plants.

Geographical distribution of arable farming in the UK

Flat, fertile land in the south and east of England.

Geographical distribution of dairy farms in the UK

Concentrated in the west of England.

Geographical distribution of pig farming in the UK

Yorkshire and East Anglia.

Geographical distribution of sheep farms in the UK

Hill areas of the north and west of Britain.

Ageing demographics of English farmers

30% were aged 65 or older, while only 5% were under 35 years old.

Proportion of female farmers in the UK

Only 20% of farmers, though the figure has been rising.

Total number of farms in the UK

About 209,000 farms, with an average size of 80 hectares.

Productivity concentration in UK farms

A small fraction of farms produced over half of agricultural output using 33% of the land.

Average annual income of a British farmer

Lower than €35,000 a year.

Profitability status of British farms in 2024

One-third of British farms were not profitable and lost money.

The six main challenges facing farmers

Volume uncertainty, producer price uncertainty, volatile input prices, high equipment costs, seasonal labor shortages, and Brexit complications.

Agricultural share of UK greenhouse gas emissions

Accounts for 12% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.

Agricultural share of UK ammonia emissions

Accounts for 87% of ammonia emissions in the UK.

Agricultural share of UK nitrous oxide emissions

Accounts for 69% of the UK's total nitrous oxide emissions.

Agricultural share of UK methane emissions

Accounts for 48% of the UK's total methane emissions, mostly from ruminating animals.

Five key climate change changes visible in the UK

Milder winters, extreme temperature/rainfall events, rising sea levels, disrupted seasons, and direct threats to crops/livestock.

UK Net

ero emissions target year

Shift in post-Brexit agricultural subsidies

Transition from land-area automatic payments to rewards for nature-friendly farming practices.

Positive consequence of global warming for UK agriculture

A longer growing season enabling the rapid expansion of viticulture (growing grapes for wine