Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Britain should start growing it’s own food again?

206 replies

Vocaladvocaat · 15/10/2023 08:33

The situation in the Ukraine clearly isn’t going to resolve any time soon. The lack of grain from Ukraine is pushing prices higher. Add in further political instability in other parts of the world to the mix. We are always told that IK farming isn’t competitive but with the rising prices, it can be and furthermore; having home grown produce is seeming like it will be more necessary in the future. AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Notcookie · 15/10/2023 08:34

Don't vote Labour then as they want to build on farmland.

pieintheski · 15/10/2023 08:37

Britain does grow its own food. What we actually need to do is stop this silly faddy "organic" trend, which wastes huge areas of land, and grow more volume. We also need to increase "non land" crops such as lava bread and mushrooms. And waste less. And eat less meat. And except less choice

But we currently grow half our food, and could easily, very easily provide all of it. Especially when you consider around a quarter to a third is wasted

MidnightOnceMore · 15/10/2023 08:37

Notcookie · 15/10/2023 08:34

Don't vote Labour then as they want to build on farmland.

No they don't.

ElleCapitaine · 15/10/2023 08:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LimeCheesecake · 15/10/2023 08:39

Ok but we never did. The reason rationing was brought in during WWII was we didn’t produce enough food to feed our population. The reason you couldn’t get eggs- even though most eggs before WWII consumed in the UK had been laid by chicken in the UK - was the government accepted they couldn’t import enough grain to feed the chickens and couldn’t produce enough grain to feed chickens and humans. So most chickens were slaughtered.

food security hasn’t been taken seriously by our government for decades.

Chowtime · 15/10/2023 08:40

Who will pick it?

Noicant · 15/10/2023 08:44

The dutch greenhouses are amazing, they grow bell peppers. So yeah can’t see why you couldn’t do it. I think we need to have a good think about more efficient food growing practices. I think theres research on using AI and tech to improve efficiencies and crop yields. I’m not sure we would ever be independent but could do more.

ThedaBara · 15/10/2023 08:45

I tried a locavor diet for a while and it's very very difficult. The growing season in this country is shorter because of the climate, so you'd be eating potatoes and parsnips for 6 months of the year. I'm not even talking about avocado toast, things like rice, soy, nuts, a lot of ordinary fruit like oranges, do not grow in this country, and most people wouldn't want to give those up

malificent7 · 15/10/2023 08:46

Good idea but is it practical?

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 15/10/2023 08:46

But wheat needs lots of hot weather doesn’t it? That’s why it’s grown in the middle of continents.

< vaguely remembers geography at school>So that won’t solve the wheat/bread problem.

malificent7 · 15/10/2023 08:46

It*

Simonjt · 15/10/2023 08:49

Have you ever been to lincolnshire?

HappiestSleeping · 15/10/2023 08:49

Watch Clarkson's Farm on Amazon. If you can stand it being presented by the ape, it is an interesting insight into why farming is on its knees in this country.

tenbob · 15/10/2023 08:50

pieintheski · 15/10/2023 08:37

Britain does grow its own food. What we actually need to do is stop this silly faddy "organic" trend, which wastes huge areas of land, and grow more volume. We also need to increase "non land" crops such as lava bread and mushrooms. And waste less. And eat less meat. And except less choice

But we currently grow half our food, and could easily, very easily provide all of it. Especially when you consider around a quarter to a third is wasted

How does organic farming waste land?

Original poster
Vocaladvocaat · 15/10/2023 08:50

Some good points, but we are talking growing basics so we don’t starve. As others have mentioned, today’s greenhouses are amazing. Britain certainly has grown wheat successfully (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2021/chapter-7-crops#:~:text=Harvested%20production%20of%20wheat%20was,the%20lowest%20production%20since%201981.) and continues to do so.

Re:picking it of course visas can be offered either to those here illegally or overseas. If they can make an exception for certain industries, why not farming?

Chapter 7: Crops

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agriculture-in-the-united-kingdom-2021/chapter-7-crops#:~:text=Harvested%20production%20of%20wheat%20was,the%20lowest%20production%20since%201981.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/10/2023 08:51

I often wonder why on earth we import so many tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers etc. from the Netherlands - a small country with the same climate as the S of the U.K. Answer, presumably because growing a lot more here would need an awful lot of polytunnels, which are loathed by NIMBYs.

Kweenbee · 15/10/2023 08:51

Where did you get the idea Labour want to build on farmland? Have you been listening to GB Propaganda or something?

Britain already does grow some crops but because of our historically damp, cool, unpredictable climate what can be grown has been a bit limited. That's before we even mention the ever burgeoning population in some parts of the country... as the climate changes we'll have to adapt to growing other crops (a baked bean harvest has recently been successful for the first time).

We are going to have to get used to less variety, or paying more for it but that's what happens when people choose to leave one of the most successful trading blocs on the planet for the vanity and private fortunes of a few self interested over privileged men. Also, much as I personally am not thrilled by the idea, with this level of population we're going to have to get used to GM crops whether we like it or not.

If you're thinking growing your own per family will be the answer try it for yourself for a year or two. Just growing a few tomatoes and potatoes isn't all that easy depending on where you live.

Chowtime · 15/10/2023 08:51

They can make visas available sure, but people have to WANT to do it And its hard work. And it's seasonal which means theres no work the rest of the year.

Sloth66 · 15/10/2023 08:55

This country hasn’t been self sufficient in food for well over a 100 years. Farmland is increasingly being built on with new housing estates

sashh · 15/10/2023 08:57

tenbob · 15/10/2023 08:50

How does organic farming waste land?

Show quote history

I'm not sure about eating less meat, I think we should eat more meat products using more of the animal.

There are people who have only ever eaten chicken breast and no other part of the bird.

When did you last see a rabbit for sale? The last time I asked a butcher (OK it was a few years ago) I was told he could order one but it would be frozen and from China.

AlwaysPrettyOnTheInside · 15/10/2023 08:59

We need to go back to how it used to be imo. Locally grown/produced food for the local area, cutting out air and road miles. Allotments and community gardens to grow your own. Vegetable patches in gardens.

We should also go back to manufacturing and creating jobs and also re-nationalise utilities, public transport and any other essentials.

But it will never happen unfortunately.

Brenna24 · 15/10/2023 09:04

I live right on the east coast of Scotland, 60 miles north of Edinburgh. The local estate grows oats, wheat and barley in fields that run down to the beach. We can definitely grow wheat in this country.

Shinyandnew1 · 15/10/2023 09:06

Notcookie · 15/10/2023 08:34

Don't vote Labour then as they want to build on farmland.

Do you have a link for this?

Newgirls · 15/10/2023 09:12

Start by growing in your garden if you have one. It’s a lot of work though.

some veg box schemes are uk local but you do have to get used to swedes etc!

only buying uk in supermarkets will help - more people don’t care and will buy cheapest - even if they can afford more

DewinDwl · 15/10/2023 09:13

The land in the UK can produce things like potatoes and cabbages, no problem. No way we can produce enough wheat, or wheat of the right variety to meet the country's needs (due to the climate). You are very welcome to Dutch vegetables which are tasteless and low in vitamins and minerals. I'd rather go without that eat those.

I appreciate how much effort goes into producing healthy, tasty food, and value organic methods and high animal welfare. I grow a lot of my own and enjoy my berries, apples and vegetables. I can buy local for a very few things. I am aware that in many areas the best use for the soil from the point of view of food production is to grow grass for cattle and sheep. Our local hills can't even produce swede or turnips.

It might not be politically popular to accept this but the UK, due to its climate, soil and population size, can not be food self-sufficient. We have one of the most competitive food industries in the world, I'm not sure more can be done. Welcome seasonal local food and be grateful that politics and technology allow us to import all the rest.