Mark chats to David Edwards as he discusses his fears that growing crops in the UK could be unviable due to rising costs.
A Sunshine Radio Podcast
Friday, 27 March 2026 - 4 minutes
Millwood Farm has been home to David Edwards’ business since 1995—a small but mighty operation supplying natural, seaweed‑based fertilisers to farms across the UK. For more than three decades, David has championed sustainable growing long before it became a buzzword, helping farmers enrich their soil without relying solely on chemicals.
But right now, he says the industry is facing pressures unlike anything he’s seen in his lifetime.
The rising cost of fuel, chemical fertilisers, and seed treatments is pushing many farmers to the brink. For some, David warns, the maths simply doesn’t add up anymore. “It’s getting to a stage where it’s uneconomical to actually be planting the fields,” he tells us—a stark reality that could tip the country toward food shortages far faster than most people realise.
And with global instability, conflict, and supply chain uncertainty, David believes the message couldn’t be clearer: “This country will not be able to survive without British farmers producing food.”
In this short episode, David discusses the challenges facing growers across the UK, and why the future of our food supply may depend on decisions being made right now in fields just like his.
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