Met Office Science: Protecting UK Plants from Rising Pest Risks
The UK's warming climate is bringing new risks to its plants and crops, and the Met Office is at the forefront of the battle to safeguard our environment.
The UK's temperature has been steadily rising, and this has significant implications for the country's agriculture and forestry. In 2025, the UK experienced its warmest year on record, with an average temperature of 10.09°C, and the second year in a row where the annual average temperature exceeded 10.0°C. This trend is concerning, as it creates the perfect conditions for new pests to establish themselves in the UK, posing a threat to our food security and natural landscapes.
Dr. Debbie Hemming, a Met Office scientist, is leading a team that examines the interactions between climate and nature, including the impact of climate change on potential new plant pests in the UK. She explains, "With the warmer climate and recent extreme weather events, many species are shifting their ranges into locations that were previously too cold for them. This includes pests that were previously unable to survive in the UK. Many of these pose significant risks to our agriculture, forestry, and the wider environment. As our climate continues to change, we can expect further new arrivals."
To combat this growing threat, the Met Office has developed the UK Climate-Pest Risk web tool (https://hadleyserver.metoffice.gov.uk/biosecurityukhist/), a collaborative effort with Defra's plant health risk and horizon scanning team. This tool helps pest risk experts assess which species are likely to threaten the UK and develop effective management actions. It covers nine specific insect pests for forestry and agriculture, including the Asian longhorn beetle, Bronze birch borer, Brown marmorated stink bug, Citrus longhorn beetle, Colorado potato beetle, Potato flea beetle, Japanese beetle, Oak processionary moth, and Peach potato aphid.
One recent success story is the targeted eradication of the Colorado beetle, a serious pest of potato crops, from the UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-potato-pest-eradicated-from-uk). This achievement highlights the importance of proactive pest management and the role of scientific research in building resilience within our agriculture and forestry sectors.
Dr. Hemming adds, "Modelling and mapping the climate sensitivities of high-risk pest species, such as the Colorado beetle, helps us inform effective management actions that are already building resilience in our agriculture and forestry sectors to emerging pests."
The Met Office recognizes the importance of understanding the interconnectedness of the nature and climate crises. They believe that tackling these issues requires a holistic approach, and they are attending IPBES-12, the twelfth annual session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (https://www.ipbes.net/), to build understanding and encourage wider links with biodiversity and ecosystem service experts. By connecting scientific expertise with policymaking, the Met Office aims to develop effective solutions to protect our environment and ensure a sustainable future for the UK.
