We are urgently developing research requirements with other European laboratories to make sure we understand and the disease (Schmallenberg) better.Benn urges 'radical rethink' on food security
THERE must be a ‘radical rethink’ of the way we produce our food if British farmers are to feed a growing population into the future, Hilary Benn, Defra Secretary announced today (Monday, August 10).
Launching the UK’s first food security strategy Mr Benn said he wanted British farmers to produce as much as possible, but with less inputs, such as water and fertilizer, and producing fewer carbon emissions.
He said: “Last year the world had a wake-up call with the sudden oil and food price rises. While we know the price of our food, the full environmental costs and the costs to our health are significant and hidden. We need a radical rethink of how we produce and consume our food.
“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 we need to tackle diet-related ill health that already costs the NHS and the wider economy billions of pounds each year.”
The food security paper is part of a package published by Defra today which also includes an online discussion seeking views on the future of our food system, a update on the 2008 Cabinet Office Food Matters report and draft indicators for the sustainability of the food system.
NFU president Peter Kendall said the strategy was an important step but he said Mr Benn must support agricultural research if production goals were to be met.
“The role of domestic food producers in helping to deliver that security cannot be underestimated and we are pleased to see recognition of the need to create the conditions for a competitive, sustainable domestic production to thrive.
“We urge Ministers to push for progress in areas that are important to agriculture including the improvement of the co-ordination of food research, understanding the GM issues in the animal feed market and their impact on the pig and poultry sectors.”
He added the importance of the Government delivering the grocery market ombudsman to protect producers from exploitation.
Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 13 August 2009 9:56 am
This govermont dos not want to produse anything. They sit back and let brussels walk all over them
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M.Bainbridge | 16 August 2009 10:11 am
Perhaps Mr Benn would like to start by banning alchol as he said... “And we need to tackle diet-related ill health that already costs the NHS and the wider economy billions of pounds each year.”
So doing away with booze will...
1) Put a stop to liver failure... saving for NHS
2) Reduce the Ani-social behavior of the youth who drink under age (I think that must count as two points as there would be no police & shop assistants needing to deal with under age drinking... 3) )
4) A.A. meetings will become a thing of the past !!
5) Decrease the violence on our streets at throwing out time for the Police and subsequently the A&E staff too !!
6) Drink driving will be a thing of the past - saving on police, NHS and firebrigade time.
7) The grain that will not be used will be eaten either by man or beast...
The list goes on & on... but I guess this won't hapen as it would get bogged down at Westminster... well can you see our MP's at their clubs with only an orange juice in hand ?? ... but there is a serious point to this suggestion - think about the domestic violence, A&E cost and violence, policing/court costs and long term health benifits. At the end of the day it would not happen as it will infringe on a Human right... but should that take place over many a Human wrong ??
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