I read that our illustrious Secretary of State at DEFRA, Hilary Benn, has started advocating that UK consumers should grow their own vegetables to save money and secure sufficient supplies. He even added that whereas food prices had fallen from the peak earlier in the year the high prices "gave us a glimpse of what is to come if we don't change course".
I suppose we should be grateful that he at last appears to be taking on board the messages many of us have been sending him for some time. But does he really believe his proposal will make a significant difference to food security?
Back in the days of the 2nd World War gardens were much bigger, allotments were ubiquitous and householders knew about growing things. Today, following years of relying on supermarkets and pre-packed veg few people have any clue about growing food crops. Most gardens that are not concreted over are as small as possible to maximise land use and minimise lawn mowing. And although there is renewed interest in allotments the potential is severely limited.
He may be beginning to understand the problem. But he still has a long way to go to recognise the answer.
Comments (1)
Dear David,
Surely the point that politicians need to take on board is that support for secure food supplies, ideally with less environmental impact, is what is required, and that (shockingly) such supplies should take precedence over unlimited consumer choice, ultra low costs, convenience and even the right to waste food. Clearly the credit crunch is going to stop direct support, but I would expect any sane politician, regardless of political allegiance, to be expressing their support for secure UK food supplies and encouraging consumers to do the same. As an example of what I mean, I've appended a letter published in FW last Autumn (although you may have seen it already).
Farming is often seen as an environmental problem, but it need not be if it is given support. Adoption of feed additives to cut methane from sheep and cattle (see Japanese research quoted in the Times 26th Jan 08 and work at the Rowett Institute in Scotland) would help, but would also boost grass conversion to meat - a boost to production and a major reduction in greenhouse gasses.
Regards,
Iain Climie
Letter from FE:
How to best provide secure and affordable food supplies without digging up the whole planet has aroused much comment recently. Some put great faith in high tech solutions (GMOs or even synthetic food) although more food from less space does not guarantee feeding the poor or that habitat will be kept for wildlife. Land usage is driven by money while plentiful food supplies are often far from good news for suppliers. Smug advice from politicians and economists for farmers to diversify has not helped here, while nobody wants the job or the bill for buying then storing food surpluses.
Others suggest fewer livestock, although this would temporarily increase the supply of meat from such animals, bribing fishermen to catch fewer fish (but to land all they catch) and such old-fashioned ideas as eating more offal, some of the many animals killed as pests or even not wasting so much food. Yet better livestock practices, as noted by the UN FAO, can play a major role.
Feed changes can dramatically cut waste and emissions while there is huge scope for combining livestock with habitat conservation, crops and/or carbon sinks. Animals can be kept in orchards or woodlands, whether existing or replanted while they can be fed on waste which would otherwise rot and emit methane in landfill. A recent holiday in Cantabria in the Northern Spanish mountains, was also an eye opener.
Despite the precipitous terrain, a few goats appeared to have been Velcro’ed to the rocks while more mainstream techniques including sensible grazing of high pastures, sheep amongst apple orchards and both deer and wild boar in the extensive forests. This was supplemented by a few fish and a fair amount of fruit and vegetables in gardens. Grassland for winter fodder allowed a wide range of plants and wildlife although its manual harvesting is too easy to romanticise, while the amount of land dug up and extra fertiliser needed were was minimal.
Such ideas are not a global panacea but they show what can be achieved given support and investment. The area is popular with Spanish tourists willing to eat local produce. The problem, however, is a simple question of priorities. Farming can and should be a major player in solving environmental problems but needs support and the realisation that food supplies and habitat conservation, are actually more important than obsessions with choice and convenience.
Posted by Iain Climie | January 18, 2009 4:25 PM
Posted on January 18, 2009 16:25