Skip to main content
Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Main navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Publications
  • Forms
  • Contact

Keynote Lecture Highlights Urgency of Climate Action for UK Food System

Date published: 07 March 2024

In a thought-provoking lecture held at Riddel Hall recently, Dr. Pete Falloon, the Met Office's lead on Climate Service for Defra on Food, Farming, and the Natural Environment, asked the question "What does climate change mean for the UK food system?".

Dr Pete Falloon of the UK Met Office

Dr Falloon delivered the 64th George Scott Robertson memorial lecture to a full house of delegates drawn from various sectors.

The annual lecture series was initiated in 1951 to perpetuate the memory of Dr George Scott Robertson who played a prominent part in promoting agricultural progress in Northern Ireland from 1921-1948.

Image of the organisers, keynote speaker and Minister at the 2024 GSR lecture
This significant event is a cornerstone in the Northern Ireland agri-food calendar, organised in continuing collaboration between Queen's University, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), the Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU), and the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Dr. Falloon's presentation unveiled critical insights into the future trajectory of UK weather patterns, emphasising significant shifts expected in the coming years. "The future weather in the UK will continue to see seasonal changes," Dr. Falloon remarked, noting projections of drier and hotter summers by up to 10°C, alongside milder, wetter winters characterised by more intense rainfall events.

Discussing the implications of these climatic shifts on the UK Food System, Dr. Falloon highlighted potential challenges including reduced productivity, infrastructure damage from extreme weather events, and pressures on food supply during temperature extremes. These findings underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate climate-related risks within the agri-food industry.

He concluded the lecture saying “Alongside well-known risks, there are opportunities for UK food security in a changing climate. However, it is imperative that we implement a whole system approach to adopt and implement potential solutions.”

Latest News

  • Minister announces final opening of the Soil Nutrient Health Scheme

    15 May 2025

  • AFBI Showcases the impact of its Science at this year’s Balmoral Show

    Published 07 May 2025
  • ZeroNsile Red Clover farmers make plans for the 2025 season

    06 May 2025

  • Finding the needle in a haystack: eDNA as a Surveillance Tool for Plant Pathogens in Northern Irish Forests

    23 April 2025

More news
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on X (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Footer links

  • © AFBI Copyright
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies