General Discussion

I have been banging on for years about the need to preserve and making better use of what we have. Populations growing, natural resources running out, food shortages because of, ETC,ETC. Government policy | Mon 10th Aug 2009 | 'Radical rethink' needed on food supply There needs to be a "radical rethink" of how Britain produces and consumes food, Hilary Benn said on Monday. Speaking at the launch of the government's food security assessment, the environment secretary said that while the current situation was good, future food supplies could be threatened by climate change and rapid population growth. "While we know the price of our food, the full environmental costs and the costs to our health are significant and hidden," he said. "We need a radical rethink of how we produce and consume our food." The assessment stated that the UK is in a "relatively fortunate" position and enjoys a high degree of food security, but warned against complacency. Benn said: "Globally we need to cut emissions and adapt to the changing climate that will alter what we can grow and where we can grow it. "We must maintain the natural resources – soils, water, and biodiversity – on which food production depends. “And because we live in an interconnected world – where the price of soya in Brazil affects the price of steak at the local supermarket – we need to look at global issues that affect food security here. "That's why we need to consider what food system should look like in 20 years, and what must happen to get there. We need everyone in the food system to get involved – from farmers and retailers to the health service, schools and consumers." The Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that to feed a growing population, global food production will have to increase by 70 per cent compared to 2005-7 levels by 2050. Benn told the BBC's Today programme that last year's increase in food prices caused by a sudden increase in oil prices had been a "wake-up call". "With a global increase in population of two-and-a-half to three billion in the next 50 years, that's a lot of additional mouths to feed," he said. "The challenge we've got is to increase food production at the same time as doing it sustainably, because we know, in particular, climate change will have an impact on our ability to do that, and we know that food production is quite heavily dependent on oil. "We saw last year a big increase in food prices, in part because of the weather - drought in Australia increased the cost of bread here in the UK- but also because the cost of oil went up and that affects fertiliser and fuel." The government also said it aims to publish a "clear strategy" on food supply next year, taking onboard responses to a consultation published alongside the assessment. Today's documents are published together with an update on last year's 'Food Matters' report from the Cabinet Office on rising food prices. I am so glad that at long last it is being taken on board and I wonder if it has had anything to do with the Dimbleby lecture which was broadcast several weeks ago.