British farmers need to modernise urgently to cope with more extreme weather as the country prepares for its second successive summer heatwave, however financial support for farmers to do this has been overlooked by a new government funding package.

Record temperatures last July caused fruit and veg crops to fail across the country, with produce such as salad leaves, peas and legumes all affected. Similarly, extreme weather in Spain and Morocco in February this year caused more pronounced shortages, with Britain's reliance on imports during the winter months exposing retailers to the worst of conditions.

While technologies such as indoor farming, precision farming and smart lighting systems are already developed and available to farmers to improve crop resilience, greater support is needed to fund the transition. The UK Government's Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) rolls out 23 actions from August this year, but there is no provision for enhancing sustainable farming using agritech solutions.

David Farquhar, CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions, an indoor farming technology company, said: "The recent impact of extreme weather can be seen through the entire supply chain. Droughts can damage fertile land resulting in failed harvests and reduced irrigation, while heatwaves can accelerate dehydration in plants affecting their overall productivity.

"These events are often followed by heavy downpours. Dry land doesn't absorb water as easily, creating a greater risk of erosion and flooding. That makes it incredibly challenging to grow crops in a predictable and controlled way. And these issues aren't just confined to the UK: IGS' order book stretches across Europe, North America, and into the southern hemisphere, and our customers are all flagging similar concerns.

"A comprehensive approach to addressing the challenges posed by extreme weather is essential. I urge the government to consider additional actions and more flexibility as part of the SFI. We must implement policies and initiatives that build resilience, support innovation, and promote sustainable and innovative agricultural practices through technology. For example, adopting a hybrid farming model that mixes traditional open field growing with indoor growing can secure producers against the worst of the conditions and bring renewed food security even considering difficult growing conditions."

While the government has announced its Farming Innovation Programme will launch this year, it is focussed on supporting early-stage research and development projects – rather than implementing existing tech that could help today.

With forecasters predicting that this summer could be as hot as last year's, ground temperatures already reaching 60^oC in parts of Spain, and long-term projections suggesting extreme weather events will continue, a fundamental change to how we grow crops is needed to maximise resources and improve our food security.

Temperatures across Europe are rising at twice the global average with summer 2022 being Europe's warmest ever recorded. And, by 2050, we will need 50% more water compared with 20 years ago, according to Torgny Holmgren, executive director at the Stockholm International Water Institute. By creating optimal conditions such as temperature, light, and water utilisation, automated technology used in indoor farming minimises the negative effects of heatwaves on crops in a traditional setting.

Professor Derek Stewart, Director of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at The James Hutton Institute, said: "Efficient use of resources, including water, is more important than ever now if we are to ensure food is produced sustainably. The breadth and frequency of these droughts are extremely concerning.

"The UK has a £6bn import deficit for fruit and vegetables and we could see this increasing or if the climate extremes continue simply face a future with far fewer of these produce on our shelves. Vertical farming offers many benefits not least of which is the onshoring of fresh produce production, increased sustainable food security and a reduction in the import deficit."