Britain’s potato industry has called for water supplies for agriculture to be treated as strategic national infrastructure, warning that unreliable access could restrict domestic production and increase the country’s reliance on imports.

The issue dominated discussions at the Potato Industry Growth Summit in London, hosted by GB Potatoes and the National Potato Innovation Centre. Representatives from across the potato supply chain concluded that more reliable access to water will be essential both to protect existing production and to support future industry growth.

The summit took place during a period of unusually hot and dry weather. England received 65% of its average rainfall during spring 2026, while southern England received only half its seasonal average. By the middle of July, England had recorded 34% of its average rainfall for the full summer season.

The conditions followed droughts in England in 2018, 2022 and 2025, alongside periods of excessive rainfall that have disrupted planting, harvesting and other field operations. Growers attending the summit reported longer intervals between rainfall events, combined with more intense rainfall when it does occur.

Delegates argued that the increasingly volatile pattern makes it necessary for growers to capture water during wetter periods and store it until crops require irrigation.

Potatoes are particularly vulnerable to water stress during tuber initiation and bulking. Insufficient or inconsistent water availability can reduce yields, restrict tuber size and create quality defects that leave part of the crop unsuitable for fresh-market sale or processing.

A potato crop typically uses around 350 mm of water during the growing season, equivalent to approximately 1.4 million litres per acre. This total is supplied through rainfall, moisture already held in the soil and irrigation.

The importance of irrigation was also evident in Defra’s assessment of the 2025 crop. The department said yield performance varied significantly according to water availability, with some irrigated crops producing more than 80 tonnes per hectare while non-irrigated crops yielded as little as 30 tonnes per hectare.

Defra’s 2025 potato supply balance placed total new supply for use in the UK at 7.149 million tonnes. Domestic production accounted for 71% of that volume, with the remainder supplied through net imports.

Scott Walker, chief executive of GB Potatoes, said reliable water access would be required to reverse the industry’s dependence on imported potatoes.

“Water is not an optional extra for potato production. It is fundamental to maintaining the crop we grow today and absolutely essential if we want to increase British production in the future,” Walker said.

“Without reliable access to water, we will see further reductions in domestic production, greater volatility for growers and processors, and increasing reliance on imports. That would weaken our food security and export jobs and investment from the British supply chain.”

Summit delegates called for long-term water planning involving government, regulators, water companies and agricultural businesses. They also identified a need for faster and more proportionate planning and licensing procedures for farm reservoirs.

The industry wants policies that allow water to be captured and stored during periods of high rainfall, alongside continued investment in irrigation efficiency, soil health, drainage and whole-farm water management. Delegates also supported further research into potato varieties and production systems capable of coping with both drought and excessive rainfall.

Walker said growers were willing to finance reservoirs, irrigation equipment and more efficient water-management systems but needed greater regulatory certainty before committing capital.

“We experience periods when there is too much water and periods when there is far too little. The answer is to enable growers to capture water when it is available and store it until crops need it,” he said.

“If government is serious about economic growth, food security and increasing domestic food production, then water for agriculture must be recognised as strategic national infrastructure.”

The summit also considered ways to increase potato consumption, improve plant health, restore confidence and profitability, accelerate innovation and attract skilled workers to the industry.