"If all the food produced in the UK in a year were stored and eaten from January 1, the 'cupboard' would be bare by August 14" suggests the National Farmers Union. Advocates urge the government to help farmers produce more of the country's food.
Britain's lack of self sufficiency in food terms has been highlighted by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) who have called for an increase food production and for support for farmers. Currently the UK produces 62% of its own food, falling from 75% over the course of two decades, something the NFU president Peter Kendall describes as alarming.
Kendall goes on to criticise Britain's obsessive hunt for the cheapest source of food which has seen the import of food and drink reach £37.6 billion a year.
The NFU claims that concerns over reliability of food, including the recent horse meat scandal, and complications in the purchasing chain are in part, also to blame. In the article, published in the Telegraph, Kendall suggests that given the right market conditions and 'the confidence to invest', food production would increase significantly.
The British government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) disagrees with the NFU's concerns, suggesting that it "shows our farmers can be competitive and also that there are opportunities to increase their share of the market here. There are also opportunities to sell their produce in other countries.”
FULL STORY: British-produced food would run out today, farmers warn
January Must-Reads: Top 10 Articles From Last Month
How a tidal wave of potential changes at the federal level could throw many programs planners depend on into chaos, a roundup of last year’s zoning stories, and the continuing ripple effects of a landmark Supreme Court case.
How Smaller Supermarkets Could Transform American Communities
Bigger is not always better.
Urban Farming Addressing Hunger (and More) in Pittsburgh
Urban farming provides opportunities to increase food security in addition to other benefits.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie