Today DEFRA launched Food 2030: An online discussion. It's an interesting discussion, with some useful accompanying facts. In particular I found the Food Statistics Pocket Book useful.
Food prices are expected to increase. However retail food prices were 10.6% lower in real terms in May 2007 compared to January 1998 and farmers are receiving less for their contribution.
Apparently the UK is currently 58.1% self-sufficient for food and the situation is getting worse. Between 1996 and 2005 the value of imports of food and drink that we could grow ourselves has risen by 48.3%.
The combined market share (excluding convenience) of the largest four food and drink retailers (Tescos, Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons) is 75.5%. Independents account for less than 3% of the UK grocery market shares.
Food transport in terms of urban food kilometres, HGV food kilometres, air food kilometres and CO2 emissions increased in 2004. Urban food kilometres account for most of the accident and congestion costs.
Currently, 86% of adults consume less than 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day and we're eating too much sodium.
I would have liked to have seen more on education. I've already made comments on the lack of cookery education in schools, with children being taught to make an apple crumble by opening a packet of apple pie filling and sprinkling on a packet of crumble mix.
It seems to me that we should:
- Support local food producers where possible
- Eat less processed food
- Eat more seasonal food (rather than, for instance, eat strawberries at Christmas)
- Improve youngsters education so that they make better informed choices.
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