‘UK would run out of food a year from now with no-deal Brexit, NFU warns’

[IAmInsignificunt]

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/aug/07/uk-run-out-of-food-no-deal-brexit-national-farmers-union

Interesting article in The Guardian today.

‘Research showed 7 August 2019 would be the nominal day that Britain would run out of food if it were asked to be wholly self-sufficient based on seasonal growth, the NFU said.

The temperatures of the past few weeks have put Britain’s food production capabilities into sharp focus and underlined concern.’

I'm glad someone else spotted this. I'm not a farmer but very much going to listen to them when it comes to Brexit.

Yep it seems oddly glossed over doesn’t it?

There’s already a problem with carrots, potatoes, parsnips, salads and brassica because it’s been so dry (Radio 4 Farming Today this morning). Which means imports.

There’s already a problem with carrots, potatoes, parsnips

That’s Christmas dinner and the bulk of my winter and autumn meals out the window.

There’s already a problem with carrots, potatoes, parsnips, salads and brassica because it’s been so dry (Radio 4 Farming Today this morning). Which means imports.

From where ? Most of Europe is scorching too.

From where ? Most of Europe is scorching too.

They didn’t say. I don’t know if the weather has impacted on greenhouse growers as much as field growers. In any case, not being able to import easily post-Brexit seems a bad idea.

Of course this situation actually highlights the thing about trade, and import/export generally. Which is we can only import stuff if people are willing and able to export it.

If the UK is importing food from somewhere, then somewhere food is leaving another country. So either surplus for them, or more worryingly, they are going hungry .

I suspect the failure of the UK to appear in any of the top countries in the EU doesn't bode well

ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/The_fruit_and_vegetable_sector_in_the_EU_-_a_statistical_overview

facts, eh ?

yeah right of course it is

We'll never be completely self-sufficient in food - we can't grow a lot of the produce we want to eat for starters, and we don't have the infrastructure to grow it, store it or distribute it.
Or probably import or export it easily, in the near future.

We could produce a lot more of our own dairy, chicken, beef etc but it will take us a good few years to get there. And have an impact on our environment too. And probably food prices.

We'll never be completely self-sufficient in food

We haven't been for over a century.

We chose industrialisation over agriculturisation.

Growing veg for my Christmas dinner - carrots, spuds, parsnips, sprouts (yes, I like them), kale, onions - as a kind of jokey experiment in my little garden. Only expected spuds if I am honest. Spuds, onions and kale so far.

I have huge sympathy for the plight of farmers but I wish they had considered this before 58% of them voted for Brexit two years ago. From CAP subsidies to their need for European labourers, they have been (relatively) protected whilst we were in the EU. The situation outside it is looking far less certain.

Most farmers have been blaming the EU CAP for mindless bureaucracy & interference (rightly or wrongly) for years, they’re the target Brexit demographic and many in a state of denial about the level of support & loyalty from govt & consumers.
Brexit will be a painful shock.