Articles | Food for the Future - are we secure?

Written by The Source | Posted on 11/09/2009 | Category: Real Food

Imagine the scenario. The price of oil begins to increase as global production reaches a peak whilst at the same time emissions of greenhouse gases as cut to fit with global, EU and national commitments. This is not unlikely. Both of these momentous changes are going to take place in the next couple of decades and both will have a massive impact on the way we produce and transport our food. What we eat relies so heavily on fossil-fuel driven machinery and transportation, and petrochemical-based fertilisers, pesticides and packing, the big question is: ‘how much longer can feed ourselves?’

In January last year the government had a good look at food from all sides and decided that ‘existing patterns of food production are not fit for a low-carbon, more resource-constrained future’. This is not news to campaigning organisations such as the Soil Association which has been working for years towards a less intensive and chemical-free system of organic food production - kinder to the environment and less wasteful of precious resources. In its own assessment of Britain’s food security last year the charity concluded self-sufficiency has declined over the past ten years as we have become more reliant on imported food. Also, worryingly, there is little information as to the resilience of UK food and farming in terms of skilled labour and infrastructure. The answer? A radical transformation of farming practices so they become sustainable, coupled with the reconstruction of regional food processing and distribution networks.

In Spring 08 we summarised a great piece of research by Simon Fairlie in The Land magazine which asked the all important question ‘Can Britain Feed Itself?’ Simon concluded that it would be possible on a plant-based diet. But if Britain was hoping to shoe-horn food production into its currently available twenty-two million hectares of non-urban land and still consume a reasonable proportion of meat and dairy products, then a radical rethink of organic farming systems is required. He suggested the closed-system loop of permaculture design, which involves mixed farms with a diversity of crops and animals and the reapplication of waste back to the land for fertility, should be applied to our entire system of food growing. These are the same earth-care principles as those guiding organic and biodynamic farming and the ever-popular global Transition Movement.

The Transition Movement has also been quick to consider our future supply with its recent report entitled ‘Can Totnes and District Feed Itself?’ The conclusions are that yes it could but only if many more people lived and worked on the land (a twenty-fold increase was necessary when oil supply suddenly collapsed in Cuba). This would require a lot of re-skilling as so much of our farming expertise has been lost and the average age of today’s farmer is 60. On the other hand it would lead to a wider range of jobs at a time of economic contraction. Feeding Totnes would also depend on a very different diet. Similarly to Simon Fairlies conclusions, meat consumption would need to be significantly reduced. Demand for local food would have to grow, moving away from supermarkets and convenience food whilst finding more creative ways of getting food to local people.

The overall conclusions of all who have looked at this question are the same. It seems we need to change our attitude towards what we eat, when we eat it and where we get it from. In short we need a completely new food culture which recognises the value of good food for our health, our environment and our local economies. The time of cheap food is over. This is a challenge for all of us as consumers as the time comes for us to support our local and national food production if we wish to have security into the future. There is also a call for government to take a lead and provide a food plan for the entire country. Change has become inevitable and we need a strategy at all levels, from personal all the way to government, in order to manage it.

www.soilassociation.org
www.tlio.org.uk
www.transitiontowns.org/TransitionNetwork

How to feed Totnes

Fruit and Veg
Converting land within the town to community gardens and using all the south-facing gardens and allotments means enough year-round fruit and veg for everyone in Totnes. One acre for every household.

Cereals
Research needed for the best grains in our damp Devon climate but enough land around Totnes to feed everyone if cereals are for humans and grass is for cattle.

Meat and Dairy
Meat rationing required, with many more pigs and chickens. Half the dairy for all can already come from Riverford Organic Farm.

Nuts
Walnut and sweet chestnut varieties researched by the Agroforestry Research Trust replace protein lost from a decrease in meat.

Alcohol
One bottle of wine a month for everyone from the Sharpham Estate. Revival of hop and barley growing for beer.

Wood fuel
Not enough land for both food and fuel if reliant on wood for heating.

Send this article to a friend | | Bookmark this article