Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>]

Question is why this is suddenly happening now, if there's nothing to be 
concerned about. Why is the British government worried about food security 
and we're not? What are we not being told?
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Britain must grow more sustainable food, says Benn
Tuesday 5 January 2010 09.43 GMT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/05/uk-farming-2030-food-report

   Proposals for national food strategy calls for UK farming 'revolution' in 
response to climate change and food security. Britain must grow more food, 
while using less water and reducing emission of greenhouse gases, to respond 
to the challenge of climate change and growing world populations, the 
environment secretary, Hilary Benn, said yesterday. "Food security is as 
important to this country's future wellbeing, and the world's, as energy 
security. We need to produce more food. We need to do it sustainably. And we 
need to make sure what we eat safeguards our health," he said.
   Launching the government's food strategy for the next 20 years with a 
speech to the Oxford Farming Conference, he proposed a consumer-led, 
technological revolution to transform UK farming. "We know that the 
consequences of the way we produce and consume our food are unsustainable to 
our planet and to ourselves," he said. "We know we are at one of those 
moments in our history where the future of our economy, our environment, and 
our society will be shaped by the choices we make now." He said consumers, 
rather than retailers, should lead by buying "greener" food, wasting less and 
growing more of their own: "People power can help bring about a revolution in 
the way food is produced and sold."
   The government aims to develop a "meanwhile" lease for landowners and 
voluntary groups wishing to set up temporary allotments on land awaiting 
development. One in three people in the UK grows fruit and vegetables, 
according to a survey commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food 
and Rural Affairs. Ministers believe the move could foster community spirit 
and skills as well as physical and mental health. The cross-departmental 
strategy report, Food 2030, also supports farmers' markets to raise 
consumption of local produce.