Trend Livestock losses in heatwaves hitting farm livelihoods

Summary

The report expects that, in the short term, livestock dying during heatwaves could raise animal welfare concerns and hurt farming livelihoods. It finds that UK agriculture and fisheries are already under climate pressure. Increased soil erosion is cutting crop yields, while algal blooms cost fisheries 224 million pounds a year. Rural and coastal communities feel a disproportionate share of the impact as farming and fishing grow less viable. Disruption to global agricultural supply could produce food shortages that also weigh on farm incomes. Looking further ahead, the report suggests that farmers diversifying their crops could make their livelihoods more resilient.