An update on MWW’s water-storage programme

With the UK’s recent heatwaves, water availability is becoming an increasingly important issue for British agriculture. At MWW, our priority is building practical, long-term measures that protect our crops and strengthen the resilience of our farming operations.

Find out more about how we’re futureproofing our water management…

Building greater water resilience

We are continuing to develop winter water-storage reservoirs across our growing areas, and our completed ones are already protecting yield potential.

These projects will provide more than 150,000m³ of water storage capacity, representing a significant step forward in our long-term approach to water management.

These reservoirs will allow us to manage water more effectively, reduce pressure on water sources during dry periods, and lower the risk of crop stress and yield losses.

Preparing for a changing climate

It is imperative that the fresh produce industry embraces effective water management as the changing climate continues to increase the likelihood of extreme weather events.

The Environment Agency has warned of a potential public water-supply shortfall of five billion litres per day by 2055. This estimation demands planning and investment in water infrastructure. Our water-storage programme will strengthen the long-term resilience and productivity of MWW Farms, allowing us to continue producing fresh, high-quality crops.

You can read about how our investment has already paid off for our green bean harvest here.

Investing in sustainable infrastructure

Climate resilience is not a single solution problem, and our water storage programme is just one part of our wider approach to building a more sustainable farming business.

Alongside water management, we’re continuing our investments in soil health, protected cropping, varietal development, disease and pest monitoring, and stronger cold-chain infrastructure.

We can’t control the weather, but we can prepare for it. By investing now in sustainable infrastructure and improved farming practices, we are helping to protect our crops, our farms and the future of fresh-produce production.