The UK could face a chicken shortage as temperatures are forecast to reach 41°C in an impending heatwave, putting severe strain on livestock and the food supply chain. The extreme heat, expected between July 8 and July 11, threatens to surpass Britain's hottest day on record, raising concerns about animal welfare and stock availability.
Heatwave Impact on Livestock
Prolonged high temperatures cause significant stress on poultry and other farm animals. In 2022, when temperatures last exceeded 40°C, approximately 18,500 chickens died during transportation due to heat stress, according to Jez Fredenburgh, senior food and climate analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit. Wildfire incidents also increased by over 300% compared to the previous year, compounding the crisis.
Fredenburgh stated: “The UK’s food system, including nature and farmed animals, is increasingly coming under strain from periods of high heat, and we’ve had two record breaking heat waves in both May and June. These can have disastrous consequences.”
Previous Supply Disruptions
Chicken supply issues have caused chaos in the UK before. In 2018, popular fast food chain KFC ran out of chicken, forcing hundreds of restaurants across the nation to close temporarily. At the time, KFC tweeted: “To put it simply, we’ve got the chicken, we’ve got the restaurants, but we’ve just had issues getting them together.” Another hot spell could lead to similar shortages at multiple restaurants as the agricultural industry faces increased pressure.
Farmers on the Frontline of Climate Change
Martin Lines, farmer and CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: “The current heat across the UK is another reminder that farmers are on the frontline of climate change. Prolonged high temperatures place huge stress on livestock, dry out soils and reduce crop resilience, all while putting more pressure on nature.”
Last week, the heatwave already led to empty supermarket shelves due to cooling issues. With the added concern of stock shortages from the next spell of extreme heat, UK shops could face severe emptiness. The combination of transport losses, reduced crop resilience, and stressed livestock threatens to disrupt food supply chains nationwide.
