§ Mr. SoamesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the potential effects of climate change on British agriculture. [67280]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 25 January 1999]: My Ministry has funded a substantial programme of research on Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture, which between 1990 and 1997 cost a total of £4.4 million. This work has provided the basis for a booklet aimed at the agricultural industry, which will be published later this year. The booklet will give an indication of how climatic and market conditions may change, and the areas in which farmers may need to consider adapting their activities, as well as providing practical pointers on how farmers might chose to adapt.
The Government have recently established the UK Climate Impacts Programme to take a broader, integrated approach to research on the effects of climate change. MAFF is the major funder of a project being developed under the programme to look simultaneously at the effects of climate change on water resources, agriculture, coastal resources and wildlife in two regions, East Anglia and the north-west. MAFF is also funding a study into the timescale of farm level response and adaptation to climate change in England and Wales.