Last month the Prince of Wales launched a new 'Local Sourcing Guide'. He noted that 50 years ago farmers received between 50 and 60% of the final value of their product. Today the UK figure is 9% whereas in France it is 18%.
The Prince puts this difference down to farmers being better organised in France, more often working in cooperatives, being better at adding value to their produce themselves and selling more food direct to customers.
Local sourcing certainly has huge economic, health, social and environmental benefits. A recent study showed £10 spent on local food leads to a £25.90 investment in the local economy. Energy for transport and handling of food is 16-21% of the UKs total energy bill, contributing to climate change. Supermarket food now travels an average 1000 miles before it is sold!
It seems extraordinary that when such a convincing case can be made for local food, that the government is supporting the World Trade Organisations programme of ever more open markets and ever more ruthless competition. This can only lead to further damage to local economies.
The Green Party have long argued that we need to replace the global dependence on fickle and unaccountable markets with policies of OELocalisation and the dignity and security of more self-reliance.
People would buy British food if it was more available and the runaway success of Farmers Markets shows that people want to support their local producers. Lets hope the government recognises this before it is too late.
Philip Booth, Stroud and Gloucestershire Green Party, Nailsworth, Stroud, Glos. (via e-mail).
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