Empty shelves, riots on the streets over food and eventual societal breakdown may sound like something from the pages of a JG Ballard novel. But experts warn this scenario could well come to pass if summers like the one we’ve just had continue.

Food shortages are now a very real prospect over the coming months, multiple food sector insiders are warning, as a result of terrible growing conditions in both the UK and key overseas regions. Last month, the latest in a long line of alarming reports by think tank the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit showed milk supply was down by more than 240 million litres due to heat impacts.

Meanwhile, British arable crop growers are predicting the worst harvest on record. At the same time, potato growers have warned of smaller crops, onion growers are facing their “most challenging season ever” and brassicas are down 50%. If that wasn’t alarming enough, the government has begun cautiously suggesting the population should start thinking about stockpiling crucial food items “just in case”.