Top of the crops: 2080

In this episode, Alice and Sue time travel to the year 2080, to explore what crops we might be growing in the UK, after 50 years of a changing climate. They speak with UKCEH Spatial Ecologist Dr John Redhead about horizon- scanning research on how climate change could shape the suitability of crops in the UK and the challenges this brings for UK farming systems.

Alice also speaks with Josiah Meldrum from the UK-based wholefoods supplier Hodmedods to explore the benefits of beans and uncover how crops like chickpeas and lentils are already being cultivated in the UK. They also discuss ongoing trials of other crops, which are setting the stage for a more diverse and sustainable agricultural future.

Read more about the research in our media release
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/press/scientists-predict-what-will-be-top-crops-2080-due-climate-change


and the paper in Environmental Resilience and Sustainability
https://doi.org/10.1002/cli2.70007