The pandemic has raised and highlighted the following issues:
– food supply anxiety
– the dangers in over reliance on imported food to the UK
– the obesity crisis
– economic inequality as some areas of deprivation are hit hardest by COVID
But is has also shown the amazing results that can be achieved when scientists, business and government work together, as on the development and production of the vaccine.
As a step towards fixing some of the issues above, we might consider investment in Dutch style, hi-tech, glass house fruit and vegetable production. The Dutch have become so successful at this that they are now major food exporters – could we not also achieve this?
The UK is relatively well off in terms of producing its own meat, dairy, eggs and fish and reasonably strong on grains. However it is weakest on fruit, vegetables, and salad crops such as tomatoes, chillies, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries etc.
– Glass house sites could be developed in areas of higher deprivation as part of the levelling up agenda.
– This would involve investment in glass houses, heating systems, cultivation system, watering systems
and lighting systems.
– Scientists and business could liaise on researching and maximising results.
– Good quality apprenticeships could be offered to young people in what would be a very specialist career
role.
– These techniques involve less water and fewer pesticides than conventional methods and are thus good
for the environment.
– The environment would also benefit from the shorter journey from producer to consumer.
– Healthy fruit, vegetable and salad crops could be made more readily available and actively promoted to
communities to improve diet and therefore health.
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