North Yorkshire is one of England’s most important farming regions, famous for its quality livestock and produce, with agriculture a mainstay of the region’s economy for centuries.
Food security occurs when all people are able to access enough safe and nutritious food to meet their requirements for a healthy life, in ways the planet can sustain into the future. Currently, globally and locally, food security faces a number of threats.
Climate change poses the most significant threat to food production and food security through many mechanisms. Long-term changes in temperature, humidity, rainfall patterns and the frequency of extreme weather events are already affecting farming practices, crop production and the nutritional quality of food crops across the whole of the UK.
In North Yorkshire warmer temperatures may initially present some opportunities to increase yields but only in the very short term. In the medium to long term low water availability in the summer, increased flooding and coastal erosion, increased prevalence of pests, diseases, and wildfires, like the ones near Northallerton and in Fen Bog nature reserve in the last two years, will drastically reduce food production.
Climate change also enables the dominance of very competitive non-native species of plants such as Himalayan Balsam as well as animals, and, with no natural predators or control, this seriously threatens the existence of our native species. A significant example of this is the Asian Hornet which is currently decimating UK bees and other vital pollinators with an average nest consuming over 11kg of insects annually.
First discovered in the UK in 2016 numbers have exploded with a nest found recently in Yarm and the British Beekeeper’s Association implores us to be vigilant and to report sightings via their app or online.
Our vital pollinating insects are also threatened by the UK government this year, against scientific advice, lifting the ban on neonicotinoid pesticides which were initially phased out due to their harmful effects on bumble bees and other pollinating insects. Agricology, a free knowledge platform supporting farmers to transition to more sustainable and resilient farming systems, advocates effective non chemical methods of pest control.
Climate Action Stokesley & Villages group are fortunate in having the support and interest of several farmers and land owning families and businesses who care deeply about these threats and who are taking steps not only to protect nature and improve biodiversity through more sustainable farming methods but also to mitigate against the threat of climate breakdown to food insecurity.
To acknowledge our links with the land we are holding our Annual General Meeting and shared picnic supper on Tuesday, July 16 at 7.30pm in a farmland setting in Great Ayton where our group has planted hundreds of trees which are now absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping combat climate change. Trees additionally improve the soil and prevent flooding and erosion. All are welcome to join us to celebrate sustainable food and food production whilst planning ahead to enable all of our community to think global and act local to fight climate change and biodiversity loss. See our website www.casav.uk for location and more information.
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