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AIBU?

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War, farming and food supply

281 replies

Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 10:43

With the recent incursions by Russia into NATO territory, it got me thinking about the increased danger of war. Bearing in mind we have nearly 70 million people squashed onto this island that's a lot of mouths to feed if the food supply lines are broken (which presumably would be a priority target by any enemy).

With that clear danger in mind, I wonder how the government is encouraging and supporting our farmers and what measures they are taking to ensure that farmers continue to farm the land to produce our food. And also how they are making sure there is enough proper farmland available (and not built on or sold to Blackrock to be covered in solar panels) to potentially support 70 million hungry people.

AIBU to think that the Government are doing the opposite of making sure our food supply will be secure in the time of any war.

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Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 10:54

brytersky · 14/09/2025 10:49

Do you honestly think the government give a damn about the population? Feeding the proles would be the last thing on their minds if there was a catastrophe. We're surplus to requirements.

I don't fancy the results of 70 million of us starving. And most people won't passively just lie down.

Rachel Reeves just seems incredibly short sighted in shafting farming for minute financial gain, I just don't understand the thinking. Particularly at this time in history with a belligerent Russia. It's mad!

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Stickytreacle · 14/09/2025 10:53

I think that even without a war we are at risk of losing our valuable food supplies.

Land is being sold off for housing, we have an increased population, climate issues are affecting crops and disease risk in animals, and the government seems disinterested in supporting our farmers.

Add a war to the mix and it looks like a recipe for disaster.

brytersky · 14/09/2025 10:52

HoskinsChoice · 14/09/2025 10:49

Squashed? Less than 10% of the UK is built on. You can drama queen as much as you like but when your opening para claims we are 'squashed' into an island, it's hard to take you seriously.

We are squashed into the available housing areas. People aren't able to live on farmland or up trees.

HoskinsChoice · 14/09/2025 10:49

Squashed? Less than 10% of the UK is built on. You can drama queen as much as you like but when your opening para claims we are 'squashed' into an island, it's hard to take you seriously.

brytersky · 14/09/2025 10:49

Do you honestly think the government give a damn about the population? Feeding the proles would be the last thing on their minds if there was a catastrophe. We're surplus to requirements.

Lifeinthepit · 14/09/2025 10:46

My husband who is not one to catastrophise also suggested not filling the freezer with apples from our trees this year as that would mean our freezer was full of "low value food" which would not be so useful if there was a war on..

It's a worry.

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