Britain 'must revive farms' to avoid grave food crisis

[Subdivisions]

Top thinktank issues stark warning of unrest over prices and says GM crops could offer a solution

Britain faces a major food crisis unless urgent steps are taken to revive its flagging agricultural sector, warns one of the world's most influential thinktanks.

Following a week in which world leaders and the United Nations expressed deep concern about the prospect of global food shortages, Chatham House suggests there needs to be a major shake-up in the UK's supply chain if the country is to continue feeding itself.

Controversially, the report's authors claim the debate about the use of GM crops in the UK will have to be reopened if productivity is to be increased, a suggestion likely to spark anger from the green lobby.

They claim: "As part of the co-ordinated technological response, the debate over GM technology will need to be reopened. GM crops are cited by many food supply professionals as among the tools required in efforts to reconcile the maintenance of agricultural productivity with more sustainable and affordable food production." But they add: "The issue remains highly contentious."

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And, just is case you were wondering if Monsanto has anything to do with this:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20081026/ai_n30947489?tag=content;col1

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And they show that the leaders want "agricultural representatives" and "industry" - presumably including giant biotech firms such as Monsanto - to be more vocal to counteract the "vested interests" of environmentalists.

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And...

http://www.monsanto.co.uk/monsantouk/monsantouk.html#products

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Over the past two decades, Monsanto’s business has evolved from one predominantly based on agricultural chemicals to one where seeds and advanced genetic traits increasingly dominate our product portfolio. Genetically modified crop plants are part of that product mix, and are already grown extensively in other parts of the world, particularly in the USA, South America, China and Canada. They have only recently been introduced in Europe and are not yet grown commercially in the UK.

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Genetically Modified Food. Mmmm...mmmm...GOOD!

[Waiting For Everyman]

1. All of this stupid stuff needs to be rolled back, and fast.

Everywhere.

Every nation should produce most of its own food, and with real seeds, and not on industry-sized so-called farms. Food should always be as local as possible, that's a no-brainer. It should be required to be clearly labeled as being local or not, and then the "market" would sort that choice out pretty fast.

Monsanto is a toxic corp. For starters, we should revoke any "patent" on seeds. The hell with that. Pending that, they should be boycotted bigtime. What we need are some old-fashioned seed banks.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. We have old fashioned seed banks.

I know of and use 2 grass roots companies that are terrific.

www.rareseeds.com is run by an extremely dedicated guy, in Mo.

also the Seed Savers Exchange, which has been going strong for years,

and many other "independent" seed sources which need out support before Montasano wipes them off the map.

and btw...this "food shortage"?????

Anotehr Shock Doctrine, man made, to force countries to accept GMO.

big backlash in Mexico now over this, and in So. America.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Genetically mutant corporate crops & animals will bring the famine

not prevent it.

Get that mechanistic mutant unlabeled occult corporate crapola food facsimile product out of the food chain. Altogether.

[NashVegas]

4. Oh Lordie What Trash

Everyone has a garden in the back yard.

[RC]

5. Reality challenged much?

Not every on lives on 2 acres.

[NashVegas]

6. All Gardens Need Two Acres?

Don't get out much, do we?

[RC]

7. Us apartment dwellers don't have much space to grow what we need to survive.

I suppose I could gut the second bedroom and install some grow lights and over time steal enough dirt. That should provide a few weeks of food if I keep replacing what I eat. I think I may have a problem with the apartment management with the chickens though.