Food: Production
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she is having with [a] water companies and [b] the Environment Agency about maintaining food production during periods of drought.
Answered by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ministers engage regularly with both the Environment Agency (EA) and water companies on drought preparedness and response, including through the National Drought Group, to assess drought impacts and coordinate action across sectors, including agriculture. The National Farmers' Union represents the farming sector on the National Drought Group, helping to inform planning, response and resilience measures to protect food production. This engagement informed the Government’s package of support for farmers affected by drought, announced in August.
The EA also works closely with farmers, landowners and their representative bodies to communicate changes to water abstraction and support long-term water resilience. They provide updates through drought briefings, stakeholder forums and the Farming Advice Service. Farmers and landowners are encouraged to talk to local EA teams about abstraction changes, available support and options to improve resilience, including water sharing, on-farm storage and other local solutions.
Water companies also work with affected customers and stakeholders to provide information and advice during periods of drought.
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