Over the next 75 years, if gaseous emissions continue unabated, the climate of northern Britain is likely to become up to:

• 3.5°C warmer in summer
• 50% drier in summer
• 40% wetter in winter
• 90% less snow
• four weeks earlier spring
• more extreme temperature and rainfall events
• 90% higher CO2 levels
• higher UV-B and reduced ozone.

Pragmatically, more extreme and variable weather, and changes in winter precipitation, will mean agronomic and cropping pattern changes too. The requirement for more resilient/adaptable crop genotypes with durable resistance coupled with functionally resilient soil and crop environments is, therefore, paramount.

Regional variations in the direction and magnitude of climate change will drive changes in cropping patterns with resultant socio-economic impacts on rural communities in particular. Developing crops able to not just tolerate but to advantageously exploit these changes, requires a comprehensive understanding of the crop genotype-environment interaction, where the environment includes the agronomy, ecology, abiotic and biotic stress and end-user requirements.