Britain’s food production is coming under mounting pressure as drought, extreme heat and a growing number of wildfires threaten harvests across the country — reinforcing industry warnings that the UK must protect its ability to source affordable fresh produce from around the world. Half of England has now been officially declared in drought following exceptionally low rainfall and prolonged high temperatures. Farmers are harvesting crops early, yields are expected to fall and

Paranova Print and Packaging is investing £20 million in a major expansion of its fibre-based packaging operations, including a new production facility designed to meet rising demand from the fresh produce, convenience and food-to-go sectors. The five-year investment programme begins with £6 million being channelled into a purpose-built paperboard facility in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. Scheduled to become operational in early November, it will be Paranova’s fourth and lar

Waitrose is developing refrigeration technology capable of operating in temperatures of up to 48°C as increasingly intense summer heat places greater pressure on supermarket infrastructure. The John Lewis Partnership-owned grocer is preparing its stores for a hotter climate with advanced systems combining heat-pump technology and refrigeration to keep chilled products at the correct temperature during periods of extreme heat. While development of the new equipment continues,