Idealistic dreams are no good...we need to be able to feed the world
EVERYONE is currently prepping for winter – finishing making new silage, whilst using up last year’s or buying in to eke out, hay making while the sun shines or beginning harvest of this year’s crops to feed or provide energy.
Different feedstuffs are being tried or the number of feeds given reduced to try to save costs through labour or energy use because rising input costs above the resulting return cannot be sustainable for a business.
Other countries are also suffering – Sri Lanka has food inflation of 54 per cent and energy inflation of 158 per cent.
The situation hasn’t been helped by an overnight ban on artificial fertiliser, and has resulted in uprisings.
The Netherlands, a highly agricultural productive nation, is seeing demonstrations as they are instructed to reduce emissions, which will result in the closure of farms.
Not long ago, India was beset with farmers protesting as their government tried to change the way produce was stored and paid for.
South American countries have seen unrest through hunger and food shortages.
Here, we see the number of food banks rising, once unusual to be seen but commonplace now as the economy stalls.
A rise in the price of the weekly shop means little if you have plenty coming in, but it becomes an issue if you haven’t.
But processors are willing to pay more for goods to ensure
Any schemes Defra wants uptake on have to pay equally well to make it worthwhile signing up – this is the new global market place
a supply. This also means any schemes Defra wants uptake on have to pay equally well to make it worthwhile signing up – this is the new global market place
we are in. We are going to need answers to how we are going to make sure the world is fed – not through idealistic dreams but through practical and easily accessible options, through research and development, but trying to be sustainable.
We must realise every action we take has a consequence.
Climate, population increase
or movement, water demand, demand for land for housing and associated infrastructure and disease all affect our food production, and we are seeing such effects now.