Memorandum submitted by Leicestershire
Food Links (SFS 42)
Our organisation works within Leicestershire
promoting locally produced food. We run 5 farmers' markets
working directly with local producers.
1. How robust is the current UK food system?
What are its main strengths and weaknesses?
The main weaknesses are:
— Increased reliance on imports means
that home production has decreased substantially and the infrastructure
has suffered. Depletion of orchards and market gardens. The number
of farmers and farm workers is decreasing due to business failures,
low profit margins, poor wages, supermarket practices, transport
issues and lack of financial and knowledge based support.
— Reliance on oil. Fertilisers, transport,
etc causing an increased demand bio fuels limiting food production.
— Mediocre distribution networks in
some areas.
— Climate change—flooding, drought,—failures
have large impact on the whole sector.
— Consumer attitudes—supermarket
dominated retail environment with all year round range of products,
disassociation with rural issues and knowledge of food and its
production and preparation, reliance on perceived cheap, quick
food, low levels of food education and loss of skills. Businesses
have a strong desire to buy local, however they are not willing
to purchase locally unless prices are competitive.
— Consumer eating habits -Predominance
of meat rich diet large amount of land used for animal feed less
land for development of vegetable crops. Dependency on soya, sugars
and bulking agents in diet, overconsumption.
— Problems with development versus
growing land.
2. How well placed is the UK to make the most
of its opportunities in responding to the challenge of increasing
global food production by 50% by 2030 and doubling it by
2050, while ensuring that such production is sustainable?
Insufficient information to comment.
3. In particular, what are the challenges
the UK faces in relation to the following aspects of the supply
side of the food system:
The provision of training
— Re-introduction of more apprenticeships
and specialised part-time courses at colleges for those intending
to farm and/or produce food. A new breed of smallholders/hobby
farmers/market gardeners lack access to support and training depending
on locality.
Trade barriers
— Market Charters restricting Farmers
Markets. We have experienced problems setting up new markets in
Leicestershire because limited permission and/or the fees charged
under Local Authority Rival Market policies or because individual
Charter holders running a monthly market have refused to hold
another during the month. As a not for profit organisation we
have not felt that we could risk the expense of legal action on
a test case.
— Allotment regulations restricting
sale of produce.
The way in which land is farmed and managed
— The UK food system will need a complete
overhaul. Decisions will have to be made as to whether we revert
to a more traditional holistic sustainable way of farming in increased
locations or adopt the idea that GM crops are the only method
of providing sufficient food. We would not support the latter
and hope that the decision errs towards the former.
— Increased number of co-operatives
sharing resources and support.
— More land in cities and rural locations
made available for food production.
— We would like to comment on the opportunities
for people to grow their own food. Allotments allocations have
been seriously decreased and are now oversubscribed in many areas.
Green spaces have diminished in many town centres for housing
development etc and new housing developments offer little space
for own production due to land costs.
— To increase the level of support
given to smallholders who are currently penalised with planning
laws for farming small acreages.
— Introduction of consumer involvement
in food production, Community Supported Agriculture, Community
Orchards, Abundance projects etc.
4. What trends are likely to emerge on the
demand side of the food system in the UK, in terms of consumer
taste and habits, and what will be their main effect? What use
could be made of local food networks?
— Seasonality is supported, with an
emphasis on the benefits that local food can bring.
— Education on waste of vital resources
continued.
— Current trend due to economic climate
is a marked increase in sales of cheaper basic foods and a decrease
in organic sales. This may affect the range and amount of local
and organic produce sold by supermarkets and as already seen closure
of M & S branches.
— Farmers markets will continue to
be popular because of
(ii)a sense of ownership and community (supporting
local producers); and
(iii)fresher food and more variety.
However they may experience problems if producers
cease to trade or cannot afford staffing and rental costs of stalls
with diminishing returns.
Our food culture has changed so dramatically
over the last 60 years that it will be difficult to effect
change immediately as consumers will still expect strawberries
in December. There is an enormous range of imported foods we can
currently buy. It is of concern that some of these imports are
the life blood of workers abroad. However if more food is grown
in the UK it will mean that the market is open for new enterprises
to fill gaps. The work of local food networks needs to be researched
as they vary considerably but they already have local knowledge
of local food production and the issues involved. The CPRE are
currently trialling a local food mapping project which will be
rolled out later this year. If appropriate the Government must
decide if they will offer support to these networks to develop
good practice and effect change.
5. What role should Defra play both in ensuring
that the strengths of the UK food system are maintained and in
addressing the weaknesses that have been identified? What leadership
and assistance should Defra provide to the food industry?
— We have an industry that appears
to be in decline so maintenance is long overdue. The average age
of farmers is increasing due to the lack of new entrants. The
proposition of working as a farmer is not appealing in the current
climate. The past reliance on diversification has already shown
that farmers have been struggling for many years. Working on a
farm is hard work, dangerous and badly paid, housing in rural
locations is normally too expensive and transport links may be
non-existent—not a good combination for encouraging new
workers. However recent research implies that the majority of
people regard farmers with respect and would therefore be keen
to support them.
— A range of incentives to encourage
new entrants to farming would need to be developed to stem the
flow from the industry. There needs to be a healthy mix of small,
medium and large farms to offer increased choice.
6. How well does Defra engage with other relevant
departments across Government, and with European and international
bodies, on food policy and the regulatory framework for the food
supply chain? Is there a coherent cross-Government food strategy?
Insufficient knowledge to comment.
7. What criteria should Defra use to monitor
how well the UK is doing in responding to the challenge of doubling
global food production by 2050 while ensuring that such production
is sustainable?
Insufficient information for response.
The UK is in a serious position and consumer
attitudes to food will have to adapt as each different problem
arise whether it is climate change, depleting oil supplies or
increased population. We cannot carry on regardless. Many consumers
are unaware that there is a problem. The Transition network is
in its infancy but is working to explain the issues that Government
has to contend with today. Our bank of farmers is dwindling and
all necessary steps must be taken to support the industry. Increased
legislation and regulations have increased the burden as have
planning issues, lack of land for developing businesses in rural
areas, limited local services and training opportunities, lack
of housing and poor pay. There has been an exodus from the countryside
resulting in low levels of knowledge of farming, rural affairs
and food origins by many urban consumers. Climate change has already
affected harvests and will continue to do so. Oil prices will
rise as supplies become less.
— An end to Market Charters restricting
trade for local food over imports.
— Increased support for Farmers Markets—a
very good mechanism to promote local businesses and activities
and to educate and inform consumers.
— Changes in the planning laws to support
the set up of small scale food production and development of rural
food businesses and improvement of infrastructure—broadband
connections, postal services, local shops, distribution networks,
transport, low cost housing and training and support opportunities.
— Increased allotment provision and
inner city green spaces.
— Removal of restrictions on allotments
stopping the sale of vegetables to the public.
— Community Supported Agriculture,
Market Gardens and community led projects.
— More local abattoirs to limit livestock
travel time and support businesses.
— Increased promotion—Government
advocating the consumption and preparation of local and seasonal
food with minimum waste to consumers.
— Support of dedicated local food networks
to set up food webs, organise distribution networks, providing
support and training to new and current producers.
— A range of incentives to encourage
new farmers and local producers.
— Stricter monitoring of supermarket
practices by Food Standards Agency? Monopolies Commission.
— Increased procurement of local produce
in schools, hospitals and supermarkets.
— Financial incentives for producing
food.
— Development of partnerships and co-operatives
within the local food industries, local government and consumer
groups.
January 2009
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