Food Security
Moderator: Peak Moderation
Hmmm I wonder how that looks correlated to indigenous oil and gas production... looks like a "Peak Food" of 1999......
Olduvai Theory (Updated) (Reviewed)
Easter Island - a warning from history : http://dieoff.org/page145.htm
Easter Island - a warning from history : http://dieoff.org/page145.htm
- Totally_Baffled
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- Joined: 24 Nov 2005, 11:09
- Location: Hampshire
When looking at the UK self sufficiency figures , we must be careful not to confuse them with capability.
It is true that self sufficiency in the UK has fallen since the mid 90's to around 65% from the high seventies.
I maybe wrong , but a lot of this is driven by the crisis caused by foot and mouth and BSE. Then there is the impact of cheaper imports, and changing tastes towards foreign foods and fruits that cannot be grown here. Now that the Beef export ban has been lifted , it will be interesting to see if this figure rises.
What the figures say to me is that farming is simply running way below capacity , after all , there is no reason why we cannot be 80% self sufficient again if we acheived it 10 years ago!
We could easily be 100% self suffcient if we eliminated waste and ate more vegetables (80% of what we consume NOW is produced on 200,000 hectares out of 6 million hectares of arable land including 33% wastage)
Given the above figure some context, there is 600,000 hectares "set aside".
Think of all the "set aside" land in the EU that is getting a nice rest from growing crops or being grazed( for example France has 3 times more agricultural land than the UK wtih the same population)
The issue will be jobs for people to pay for food, this is an economic problem at least for the initial few decades post peak.
It is true that self sufficiency in the UK has fallen since the mid 90's to around 65% from the high seventies.
I maybe wrong , but a lot of this is driven by the crisis caused by foot and mouth and BSE. Then there is the impact of cheaper imports, and changing tastes towards foreign foods and fruits that cannot be grown here. Now that the Beef export ban has been lifted , it will be interesting to see if this figure rises.
What the figures say to me is that farming is simply running way below capacity , after all , there is no reason why we cannot be 80% self sufficient again if we acheived it 10 years ago!
We could easily be 100% self suffcient if we eliminated waste and ate more vegetables (80% of what we consume NOW is produced on 200,000 hectares out of 6 million hectares of arable land including 33% wastage)
Given the above figure some context, there is 600,000 hectares "set aside".
Think of all the "set aside" land in the EU that is getting a nice rest from growing crops or being grazed( for example France has 3 times more agricultural land than the UK wtih the same population)
The issue will be jobs for people to pay for food, this is an economic problem at least for the initial few decades post peak.
TB
Peak oil? ahhh smeg.....
Peak oil? ahhh smeg.....
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It depends on how long the agriculture sector has to reorganise, I would suggest that farming is the "wrong shape" at the moment, far to intensive, oil dependent, geared to produce for Tesco etc. I assume alot of these farmers are up to their eyes in debt and would go bankrupt as PO sets in, maybe then these large farms will be broken up and a more natural form of agriculture would begin.
- Totally_Baffled
- Posts: 2824
- Joined: 24 Nov 2005, 11:09
- Location: Hampshire
I agree, this will be the issue(s).SILVERHARP2 wrote:It depends on how long the agriculture sector has to reorganise, I would suggest that farming is the "wrong shape" at the moment, far to intensive, oil dependent, geared to produce for Tesco etc. I assume alot of these farmers are up to their eyes in debt and would go bankrupt as PO sets in, maybe then these large farms will be broken up and a more natural form of agriculture would begin.
One would think that governments would prioritise and incentivise farming post peak.
Even our dumb shit politicians need to eat!
TB
Peak oil? ahhh smeg.....
Peak oil? ahhh smeg.....
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- Joined: 24 Nov 2005, 11:09
- Location: Milton Keynes
The Soil Association also seems to be on the case. It has a news flash about the end of oil, which has 3 bits. The first is about PO, the second is what they are doing:
Peter.
And the third bit is to ask for donations amounting to 50kThe Soil Association, with the support of its members, is determined to press home the case for the rapid expansion of the only clear alternative: organic farming, linked to local food supplies.
We are convinced that this offers the best hope for securing our food supplies. We also know that it will take many years to complete the transformation on the scale required. For this reason it is vital that the pace of change is accelerated urgently. To do that we need your help.
To raise awareness of this amongst politicians and the public alike, we have decided to launch a concerted programme of activities, which we hope very much you will want to support.
To back up our case, research confirms that:
Organically grown crops require 50% less energy than those produced by industrial agriculture ? mainly due to zero use of artificial fertilisers which are produced from fossil fuel;
Livestock production to high organic standards, based on high grass diets and free-range systems, has a much lower energy demand than intensively-reared animals housed indoors and fed on imported grain;
Conventional agricultural systems are heavily reliant on transport. The distribution of food, animal feed, live animals and fertilisers accounts for 31% of all domestic freight in the UK;
The food processing industry uses huge amounts of energy whilst reducing the nutritional value of fresh food;
Conversely, the emphasis on using natural resources achieving self-sufficiency in organic agriculture, and on local food distribution systems, cuts the use of energy and transport substantially.
For once, economic pressures present us with a great opportunity. Our pioneering work over the last sixty years has led to the development of low energy organic farming systems. In the last decade we have led the rapid growth of direct sales via farmers' markets, vegetable box schemes and at the farm-gate. The 'Jamie Oliver effect', inspired by our Food for Life Campaign, has put organic and local food high on the Government's school meals agenda.
Thanks to the loyal support of our members, the Soil Association has already secured itself a position of key influence ? through the combination of our powerful philosophy, our public interest priority and our track record.
Our plan now is to:
Open people's eyes to the high vulnerability of the Western World's food supply by publishing a definitive report making the case for the expansion of energy-efficient organic farming.
Raise awareness of the dangers ahead by launching a hard-hitting campaign so more people join us in creating a sustainable future by buying food which is grown organically and sold locally.
Change attitudes to food-sourcing by challenging the Government to apply the Soil Association's Food for Life targets - 75% unprocessed, 50% local and 30% organic - to schools and hospitals throughout the UK.
Promote a holistic vision of sustainable development at a major UN conference in 2007. By hosting the event in collaboration with other organisations, we can connect the critical issues of climate change, energy use, food security, health, and rural employment at the highest level.
Peter.