Centralised Mega Food Factories?

bluebell

Member
Is it good to have fewer but bigger? such as a milk processing plant that was recently shown on TV, here in the UK, or come to that just a couple of oil refinaries? All good and super effcient till a problem, having all your eggs in one basket? The massive baby milk formula shortage in the USA for one? Apparently one plant that produces over 40% of baby milk formula for US consumers, babies? has been shut down for a health scare and no provision made for its replacement? This has been the general direction the food industry has taken in the UK, such as fewer but bigger? Comments please and from any of our american friends please?
 

Briar

Member
Would depend on perspective.

We have been led to believe over the years bigger is better, more efficient etc, and that’s the route we must follow. Usually heralded by the multinational companies with shareholders.
However to become more resilient and capable of evolving faster, as and when the need arrises, I would advocate not putting all eggs in one basket and promoting a more diverse system with local provenance and quality at forefront.
Especially regarding where our food comes from perhaps not so critical with non perishable goods such as cars, white goods etc.
 

bluebell

Member
thats the problem generally, population today, even those living in the countryside are almost totally dependent on the electric working, water coming out of a tap, fuel available as well as snacks? 24 seven at the local supermarket? Only a couple of generations ago society was alot more self reliant? If for incdance you lived in the country? many had no utlities, ie mains drainage, water, electric, so had no bills? They planned for the long hard winters grew, kept, caught much of their food? Villages or small towns were totally self suffcient in there needs?
 

delilah

Member
At least food from farms will always be sourced globally from diverse locations.

Until it isn't. By relentlessly pursuing a policy of consolidation, agriculture is competing in a race with fake food that it will lose. It is just another reason, among many, why we need to turn around now. More farms, not less. Which will only happen with more processors, more retailers. Market share is the root of all evil.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Everything getting bigger and bigger will end the world. Governments should really do something about it, like stopping these businesses expanding.
No business (including farmers) should be allowed to buy or rent any more land from any other business. That will keep things on a small scale. (y)
There you go next problem?
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
thats the problem generally, population today, even those living in the countryside are almost totally dependent on the electric working, water coming out of a tap, fuel available as well as snacks? 24 seven at the local supermarket? Only a couple of generations ago society was alot more self reliant? If for incdance you lived in the country? many had no utlities, ie mains drainage, water, electric, so had no bills? They planned for the long hard winters grew, kept, caught much of their food? Villages or small towns were totally self suffcient in there needs?
A couple of generations ago people suffered and did without. Nowadays we mostly don't have to because we've been so successful building supply chains and infrastructure for everything, including food.
We've never had it so good. Things might get worse again but most folk, including farmers live better today than generations before them.
 

delilah

Member
A couple of generations ago people suffered and did without. Nowadays we mostly don't have to because we've been so successful building supply chains and infrastructure for everything, including food.
We've never had it so good. Things might get worse again but most folk, including farmers live better today than generations before them.

That the best you've got ? You do understand that none of the improvements in standard of living/ quality of life that you allude to are due to consolidation in the food chain ? On the contrary, so many of the problems we face - air pollution/ asthma/ packaging mountains/ seas of plastic/ congested roads/ food deserts in poor areas/ etc etc etc - can be traced directly to that consolidation. (Oh, and for the purposes of this forum, a minor detail - less farmers) .
 

Macsky

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
There's a number of central food factories going offline for bizarre reasons in the states. Plane crashes and fires.
7650EC59-3227-4F78-97B8-05571629DC5E.png

Came across that on twitter the other day, looks a lot, but it’s a massive country so how many are there altogether for context? 🤷‍♂️
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
That the best you've got ? You do understand that none of the improvements in standard of living/ quality of life that you allude to are due to consolidation in the food chain ? On the contrary, so many of the problems we face - air pollution/ asthma/ packaging mountains/ seas of plastic/ congested roads/ food deserts in poor areas/ etc etc etc - can be traced directly to that consolidation. (Oh, and for the purposes of this forum, a minor detail - less farmers) .
You think air pollution is worse in London today than it was when the queen took over? You think we're worse off now than 2 generations ago?
I watched a program the other day that said 1 in 3 chips consumed in the UK was made by McCain.
How do you stop them?
 
Last edited:
Would depend on perspective.

We have been led to believe over the years bigger is better, more efficient etc, and that’s the route we must follow. Usually heralded by the multinational companies with shareholders.
However to become more resilient and capable of evolving faster, as and when the need arrises, I would advocate not putting all eggs in one basket and promoting a more diverse system with local provenance and quality at forefront.
Especially regarding where our food comes from perhaps not so critical with non perishable goods such as cars, white goods etc.
Bigger is better ,where did Unigate disappear too?🤔
 
View attachment 1041323
Came across that on twitter the other day, looks a lot, but it’s a massive country so how many are there altogether for context? 🤷‍♂️

Although that list looks alarming and sinister, the USA is such a vast country and with such a huge economy that is probably just par for the course for them.

Remember, though the USA has the EPA and OSHA/CSB, their legal system is such that no matter how terrible an accident in a workplace, no legal action will land in the laps of the directors or management.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Sometime too big is too big, Tatua have proved that small can still be effective and financially viable.
Totally agree but then even "little" Tatua received 15.7 million Kg milk solids from their suppliers last year with almost 90% of that being exported.
That's a big no no for some.

They were also allowed to limit their number of suppliers (as were many other processors) something Fonterra wasn't allowed to do.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 81 42.2%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 68 35.4%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.6%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.6%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,294
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top