Future food considerations

This report has just been released by a working group in the Welsh Government, and lays out comments and expectations that frame the anticipated direction of food production in Wales in the coming 10-20 years.

Much of the focus is on branding products and business, rather than addressing the deeper core issues that lie at the heart of our unsustainable production and consumption of food. Levels of food waste thoughout the supply chain for instance, caused by a combination of supermarket purchasing practices and consumers throwing away 1/3 obuy, do not appear to be covered by the report. Whilst energy prices are factored into discussions, the absolute role of oil and gas in producing the fertilisers we need to grow our crops is not. Similarly, soil erosion doesn't get a significant mention.

One of the most important next steps is to help communities grasp the opportunities and benefits that they can derive from more localised food production - impacts of an order of magnitude more important than branding local products. The role of geographic communties is key to the future of food security as much as it is for climate and sustainaibility response; action, as always, will result from individual involvement.

Food Security - new resources

The Sustainable Development Commission have just released their new paper "Food Security & Sustainability - A Perfect Fit", which is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding why we must keep food firmly on the radar for carbon reduction, biodiversity and community security.

The timing of the document fits with the upcoming release of the TYF EcoSapiens / Hay on Earth Food Security Plan for Wales, which moves the focus from understanding to action. Much of the work on the draft has been completed by John Fagan from the Global ID Group, one of the world's leading non-GM testing organisations, and passionate advocate for sustainability and transparency in our food supply. The plan will be published on this site in two weeks time; email Andy Middleton if you want to see a copy of the draft - comments welcome.

Elsewhere in Wales, we are encouraged by news that Groundwork are close to securing the first site to develop as a Naked Food pilot site, where we will be working with socially excluded groups to develop the technical and operational skills to develop small scale, commercial horticulture projects.

a reason for action on food

Although it's off most people's radar, there is a real sense of urgency to get moving on community, regional, nation and humanity scale awareness of the risk and response to the challenges coming down the track in terms of our food supply. Such as this:

UNEP estimates that nearly 2 billion hectares of land are affected by human-induced erosion and soil degradation, and in its 2002 “State of World Soils” report, provided the shocking insight that if we continue on a business-as-usual basis, nearly half the world’s current arable land will be “unusable” by 2050. Farmers the world over will need to move rapidly and systematically to regenerative fertility-building systems that build humus and retain carbon in the soils. (Jonathan Porritt, 2009)

TYF EcoSapiens are working with the Soil Association, Cardiff Uni and others to create a draft food reslience plan for Wales. Email us if you are interested.