Get back out there lads.

[Castle Farm]

Britons would run out of food by this Friday if the nation was solely reliant on homegrown produce, according to new research.

Analysis by the National Farmers' Union has found the proportion of the food that we consume that is produced in the UK has plummeted from 80 per cent in 1980 to just 64 per cent now.

It means that without imports, our supplies would run out on August 21 – or 'self-sufficiency day' as it has been called by the NFU.

 

[welger]

Britons would run out of food by this Friday if the nation was solely reliant on homegrown produce, according to new research.

Analysis by the National Farmers' Union has found the proportion of the food that we consume that is produced in the UK has plummeted from 80 per cent in 1980 to just 64 per cent now.

It means that without imports, our supplies would run out on August 21 – or 'self-sufficiency day' as it has been called by the NFU.

And Tom heap and chris Peckham and the other do Gooders should be at the back of the mile long queue to get there weekly shopping at twice the price

 

[Tarw Coch]

Britons would run out of food by this Friday if the nation was solely reliant on homegrown produce, according to new research.

Analysis by the National Farmers' Union has found the proportion of the food that we consume that is produced in the UK has plummeted from 80 per cent in 1980 to just 64 per cent now.

It means that without imports, our supplies would run out on August 21 – or 'self-sufficiency day' as it has been called by the NFU.

A couple of thoughts, has the change in supply and demand made any difference to the price we get? Because the heading seems to be imply that we need to produce more.
Also how much of the decrease in self sufficiency is due to an increase in population since 1980?

 

[GeorgeC1]

Also tastes as well, people want foods which aren't naturally grown here in the UK.

If everyone went back to 1 or 2 types of protein and 2-3 vegetables + wheat then we could be independent but Consumers want diversity.

 

[Smith31]

Try and employ young British people, when they turn up late, semi stoned/drunk and tell you to F off in the process, you will understand why many of us don't want to get any bigger or produce any more.

 

[Tubbylew]

Also tastes as well, people want foods which aren't naturally grown here in the UK.

If everyone went back to 1 or 2 types of protein and 2-3 vegetables + wheat then we could be independent but Consumers want diversity.

I think you maybe underestimating the variety of british produce there somewhat.

 

[GeorgeC1]

I think you maybe underestimating the variety of british produce there somewhat.

I meant in terms of producing enough to have 100% food independence.

 

[GeorgeC1]

Try and employ young British people, when they turn up late, semi stoned/drunk and tell you to F off in the process, you will understand why many of us don't want to get any bigger or produce any more.

That's a big generalisation there, Young British people are no better or worse then any other young people.

Provide a good work environment and you'll get good people.

if all your applicants and workers are always late, drunk and dngaf then maybe the fault lies with management in not actually showing leadership and making a good environment?

 

[Tarw Coch]

I meant in terms of producing enough to have 100% food independence.

At what point in history did we last have complete food independence? It’s not a realistic aim, not least because there are a lot of things that can’t be grown here. There’s also the fact that in a global market place, if it can be sourced elsewhere on the planet cheaper it will probably find its way here.

 

[GeorgeC1]

At what point in history did we last have complete food independence? It’s not a realistic aim, not least because there are a lot of things that can’t be grown here. There’s also the fact that in a global market place, if it can be sourced elsewhere on the planet cheaper it will probably find its way here.

I agree, 1800's I believe was the last time we food independent.

 

[Smith31]

That's a big generalisation there, Young British people are no better or worse then any other young people.

Provide a good work environment and you'll get good people.

if all your applicants and workers are always late, drunk and dngaf then maybe the fault lies with management in not actually showing leadership and making a good environment?

Finding staff to drive the Fendts and Deeres is no problem whatsoever, we have a waiting list to be fair.

The problems arise when they are expected to carry out physical duties in wet and muddy conditions, that's not their job apparently.

The margins in farming are tight, coupled with unpredictable weather, independent farmers can not afford to take on staff with big salaries. The price of produce has simply not kept up with wages.

 

[Ali_Maxxum]

Not to criticise the title but what do you mean by 'Get back out there lads' ? To do what exactly? Try and produce more on ever less?

More and more ground seems to be given up to be let go to the 'environment' or farmers are being paid to do so and virtually neglect it with extremely little to no inputs (apart from planting trees or meadows perhaps?) Which no doubt is subsidised/funded somehow anyway.

Could we ever be self sufficient? Have we ever been? We will soon export it to the highest bidder and buy back as cheap as we can?

On finding staff you can have a brand new fleet of everything and still nobody wants to come and drive it.... well..... maybe not entirely accurate, nobody that's any good anyway.

 

[milkloss]

Provide a good work environment and you'll get good people.

I read that as "money". It's not there.

 

[Rossymons]

Ah yes, the ol' "rising population - feed it" speel. A money lenders delight.

 

[C.J]

 

[Bury the Trash]

I read that as "money". It's not there.

and yet meat processors get runned down for not paying enough to primary producers or taking too much out

And if its farms / farmers you refer to , there seems to be plenty of new 4x4 pickup rr fancy cars and tractors and new machinery appearing all the time ...

But generally you're right, there isn't the money to pay , from the actual base product/ commodity be it meat processing , vegetables or fruit...

 

[Tarw Coch]

Or the potato grower i was talking to a couple of weeks ago, grows on contract for a major buyer, they are sent to Belgium to be made into chips before being returned to our supermarkets.

 

[Cowabunga]

A couple of thoughts, has the change in supply and demand made any difference to the price we get? Because the heading seems to be imply that we need to produce more.
Also how much of the decrease in self sufficiency is due to an increase in population since 1980?

Not only an increased population but a complete change of consumer spending where nowadays [pre-Covid] a very high proportion of food is consumed outside of the household kitchen and much of the total food is now made of ingredients that are not native to the UK. People can afford more pre-prepared and processed food, yet are unwilling to pay much for basic raw ingredients.

You are very much mistaken if you think that there is potential for substantially increasing the percentage of UK grown good in our diet, for the reasons mentioned above. UK farmers produce as much as the market can absorb and, in some cases, too much. What the powers that be want is for farmers to produce more unwanted food so that the price to the farmer and consumer is pushed lower than it already is. What they forget is that in the case of eating out and much of eating in, the raw ingredients of a meal make up less than 50% of the cost of a meal. If you add extras, like drinks bought with a meal and VAT if consumed on premises, then the proportion and the effect of raw material price change on the consumer price of a meal becomes even lower. Not quite insignificant, but almost there.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Yeah, everyone go out and produce a ship-load more so buyers and processors can screw the price even harder whilst you sweat even more and blow ever more money sweating your kit, soil and chemical bill. Great.

 

[GeorgeC1]

I read that as "money". It's not there.

It's not just money, I've been in jobs where the managers an abusive nob or just downright incompetent, that trickles down to the workforce.

a NMW job can be good, it doesn't have to be a miserable experience, plus happy workers are productive ones.