Henry Fell, chairman of the Commercial Farmers Union, makes an unlikely Cassandra. Remember the mythical Trojan blessed with the gift of prophesy but cursed because no one would believe her? I couldn't help thinking of Cassandra as Henry Fell spoke during the Agricultural Engineers' Association conference in London on Tuesday.
Always a passionate defender of the strategic importance of home-grown food, Henry was on top form this week. The conference had just heard former EU farm commissioner Franz Fischler's views on biofuel and the limited potential it offered European farmers when Henry stood up to rail against the folly of relying on food imports.
Growing crops to produce biofuels was at best a distraction which might last 20 years, the main business of farmers was to produce food, he fulminated. Yet in an increasingly hungry, populous and drought-prone world, UK politicans had chosen to rely on food imports. The proportion of home-produce food on British plates has fallen from 87% to 70% within 10 years. According to Henry: "It was a highly imprudent policy."
Well said, Henry. Thank goodness for a little commonsense. Those who put their faith in food imports might like to consider what's happening in Australia. The country's worst ever drought has resulted in a big increase in food prices. Plus government advisors are recommending that the irrigation systems in the agricultural heartland of the Murray-Darling basin be turned off in order to consider water supplies. Now that really is the devil's choice.