RESEARCH by the Welsh Farmers’ Union into Welsh food security shows that the United Kingdom’s dependence on food from other countries has almost doubled since the mid-1980s.
40 per cent of the UK’s food is now imported compared to around 22 per cent in the mid-1980s. It is a matter of concern that around 20 per cent come directly from countries that have problems that affect the climate’.
That is the background of the Welsh Farmers’ Union seminar on the Big Show Field at 11 am on Tuesday 23 July. The FUW has asked a panel of experts, who also farm, to discuss what the role of Welsh farmers is when discussing food security.
Should we focus on feeding our local communities? Do we have a global responsibility to ensure food security bearing in mind the climate situation and the political situation around the world? Or should our product be the standard and environmentally sustainable choice for consumers?
Joining the chairman of the panel, Dai Miles, Deputy President of the Union will be Holly Tomlinson, Land Workers; Head of Sustainability and Future Policy at Hybu Cig Cymru, Rachael Madeley-Davies and former senior livestock buyer for Dunbia, HCC board member and current Farmer Director of the FUW, Wyn Williams.
Deputy President of the Union, Dai Miles, said: “This panel discussion gives us the opportunity to draw attention to issues such as the UK’s dependence on imports of ‘indigenous food’ which we ourselves can produce such as beef, meat lamb and dairy products. These imports have increased fivefold in recent years, from 5 percent to 25 percent. This is completely ironic and utter folly when considering the impact of food miles on the environment.
Furthermore, the Energy and Climate Information Unit reports that “UK trade statistics show that 16% of our food imports, worth £7.9 billion, came directly from countries with a low readiness to prepare for the challenges of climate change being exposed to the effects of climate, but also lacking the ability and willingness to adapt and respond to those challenges.”
The Deputy President of the Union said: “We already know that the former Westminster government did us wrong when the UK left the European Union. We need a much more robust approach to trade agreements in the future if we are to protect food production within our communities protecting the economy and the UK’s food security. These trade agreements also threaten our ability to meet key climate and biodiversity targets by undermining Welsh producers.
“Food imports and exports must follow the same practices and adhere to similar standards if we want to ensure a level playing field for UK and EU producers. Otherwise, we risk losing our ability to influence our carbon footprint abroad as well as threatening our own self-sufficiency.
“Research by FUW also shows that food waste continues to be a growing problem for society. If it were a country, food waste would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. With 309 million people facing chronic hunger in 72 countries, food production and security must be at the top of the agenda of world leaders,” said Dai Miles.
