The British Government has published a report on its assessment of threats to British food security.
As well as raising concerns about the depletion of fish stocks, the report also shows that food security is being threatened by water shortages, by the rising costs of fertiliser (linked to the rising costs of oil), and by the impact of climate change on where crops can grow.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has said that, while Britain is more self-sufficient now than it was in the 1930s and 1950s, we all need to start thinking ahead about how to produce more using less water and less fertiliser. He urged British agriculture to produce "as much food as possible" but in a way that takes account of the need to tackle global warming emissions – to which agriculture contributes an enormous amount.
So how are we going to increase our output without increasing our damage to the environment?
Is this another reminder to especially reduce our consumption of meat? To increase the food growing spaces in the UK and especially in urban areas? To buy British and especially nearby-local? Is continuing the drive to grow more of our own food going to be an important part of this?
Or are the production increases that these types of local / individual measures will yield too small?
Will the yield increases we need only be made possible by scientific development for application to large-scale agribusiness, for example in the form of the development of non-oil-based fertilisers, or in the form of crop engineering, as celebrated in this BBC video report?
We’d love to know your thoughts. And if you feel passionate about this, don’t miss out on the opportunity to join in with the online public consultation process called "Food 2030".
Categories: food, seasonal eating
Good article! Its interesting to see the Government actually looking at this issue properly. Too often they skirt around the Climate issue. One thing you mentioned was “To increase the food growing spaces in the UK and especially in urban areas?” I always find it amusing how regular people think you need a large garden to start growing your own! It seems to be a mis-conception that if you do want to take control of your own food source (or at least some of it) you need a big garden. I think getting people interesting in growing their own and in doing so, using their own water (gathered by Rainbutts) and plant food (such as wormery cast) rather than nasty chemical produced fertilisers would be helpful. But I think people need to be shown the way – they need to realise you can grow tomato plants in hanging baskets, herbs on the windowsil, potatoes in sacks and strawberries in small tubs! People need to look at what they can do regarding their own food and then re-analyse their ways of thinking regarding what they are capable of due to space! Just one thought I had
Great stuff, Maddy. You’re right, it IS good to see the Govt focusing on this. And I’m with you on the “it’s easier than you think / takes less space than you think” approach to food growing. We’re so lucky to have resources at our fingertips to help us. I particularly love the Royal Horticultural Society online resources. Our waterbut overflowed during the last down-pour and I was gutted that I didn’t have anything else to hand to catch such an abundant supply of gardening water! Drat! Need to forage for an unused neighbourhood bin
What do you think about crop “engineering”?
Congratulations! This article was just featured in the latest edition of the Carnival of the Green: http://tinyurl.com/cotg193 Nice one!