The report highlights that Britain’s unique brewing heritage is in peril as changes in climate are putting supplies of home-grown ingredients, such as British hop varieties, under stress and potentially increasing brewers’ reliance on imported crops.
The study called ’UK Brewing Sector Risk and Resilience’ found wetter autumns and drier, hotter summers are putting UK and international malting barley and hop cultivation in danger of diminishing yield and quality.
This has the potential to cause domestic and global supply disruption and shortages, which could lead to price volatility.
Concern was also raised in the report that crops may be prioritised for food rather than brewing, which would risk livelihoods across the supply chain.
It calls for adaptation measures including switching to climate-resistant crop varieties, plus using irrigation and regenerative farming techniques, but says that Government support is required to help fund these measures.
Longer-term impacts
The report has also called for recognition of the longer-term impacts of climate change on British farming as well as a positive regulatory landscape for both farmers and brewers.
Both BBPA and ZCF are urging collaboration across the sector and supply chain to mitigate the risks to barley and hop production and protect the heritage, economic contribution and jobs in British beer.
BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin said: “This important research couldn’t sound the alarm any clearer; we now know the risks climate change poses to our sector.
“More importantly, this should be heeded as a rallying cry that we all need to pull together and collaborate so we can protect our unique heritage and homegrown crops.”
She added: “For centuries, Britain has relied on its barley and hops to make delicious beer, and we must act to preserve and protect this proud tradition, by everyone in the supply chain meaningfully working together.”
Resilience
ZCF director Bob Gordon said proactive steps are required to ensure the brewing industry is resilient.
“The ZCF, with the support of UK brewers and pubcos, is looking forward to working with the sector to turn this report’s recommendations into action,” he added.
The Maltsters Association of Great Britain (MAGB) said that British maltsters provide malt to 14 of the largest 20 brewers in the world, as well as supplying the smallest microbreweries.
Members source their barley almost exclusively from British growers due to the excellent quality and reliable supply.
“The risk from climate change in disrupting this situation is real and all measures to mitigate this are supported; we welcome the report commissioned by the BPPA,” MAGB said.
The British Hop Association said: “It highlights some important ways forward for breweries and growers and perhaps most importantly shows how important the UK could become in hop production moving forward.”
The report was authored by specialist sustainability consultancy, 3Keel.
