Britain facing food crisis as world's soil 'vanishes in 60 years'

[Nikki Stone 1]

http://www.telegraph.co.u...vanishes-in-60-years.html

British farming soil could run out within 60 years, leading to a catastrophic food crisis and drastically higher prices for consumers, scientists warn.

Fertile soil is being lost faster than it can be replenished and will eventually lead to the “topsoil bank” becoming empty, an Australian conference heard.

Chronic soil mismanagement and over farming causing erosion, climate change and increasing populations were to blame for the dramatic global decline in suitable farming soil, scientists said.

An estimated 75 billion tonnes of soil is lost annually with more than 80 per cent of the world's farming land "moderately or severely eroded", the Carbon Farming conference heard.

A University of Sydney study, presented to the conference, found soil is being lost in China 57 times faster than it can be replaced through natural processes.

In Europe that figure is 17 times, in America 10 times while five times as much soil is being lost in Australia.
Soil is also a valuable store of carbon and can release the greenhouse gas if it is ploughed or dug up.
The conference heard world soil, including European and British soils, could vanish within about 60 years if drastic action was not taken.

This will lead to a global food crisis, chronic food shortages and higher prices, the conference heard.
Despite better than average farming practices, European soil might last for 100 years if no further damage occurs worldwide, scientists said.

In reality, however, increased land pressures aimed at compensating global production losses would likely mean it will run out faster, they added.

Last September the government launched new plans to protect the nation's soil which included farmers being asked to use less fertiliser.

Britain imports about 40 per cent of all its food it consumes, a figure that has steadily risen over the past few years.

Almost £32 billion of food was imported into the UK in 2008 up from more than £27.7 billion the year before.
John Crawford, professor of Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Sydney, who presented the study, said it was unknown how long soil will last.

“It could be as little as 60 years and that is a scary figure because it is not obvious that we have time to reverse decline and still meet future demands for food,” he said.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that soil is the most precious resource we have got, and... (we) are not up to the task of securing it for our children never mind our grand children."

Prof Crawford, the former chair of the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s Agri-Food Committee, said restoring soil required several factors.

These factors include minimum ploughing, improved management and "resting" soil by covering crops which helps replace carbon in soil.

It can however, take decades to significantly increase the amount of useful carbon in soil, which helps make it fertile.

While organic farming could be part of the answer, he said there was "no clear evidence that we can feed the current population using organic approaches, never mind meeting demands in time".

Latest forecasts predict the world's population will grow from 6.8 billion to more than 9 billion by 2050, placing even further pressure on food production and farming.

The world last year faced a cereal crisis as wheat stocks dropped to a 30-year low after demand for wheat and rice outstripped supply for the past six out of the previous seven years.

This resulted in grain prices rocketing, which sparked civil unrest in many countries.

Extreme evidence of how soil is being eroded was seen in September when Sydney was blanketed by its worst dust storm in 70 years.

[Bannor]

this is not a worry.

in 60 years, when the arctic ice caps melt and alter the path of the gulf stream, Britains climate will resemble Icelands.

lichen will be the leading cash crop.

[HBravo]

Britain doesn't have that good soil to start with. They can do the steps needed to reverse the lose as the US did after the dust bowl in the midwest. Organic farming will never be a viable ansewer to feeding large populations.

[Mike]

Britain doesn't have that good soil to start with. They can do the steps needed to reverse the lose as the US did after the dust bowl in the midwest. Organic farming will never be a viable ansewer to feeding large populations.

If I am not mistaken, it has been quite a while since Britain was able to feed its own population. I know that was true for Germany back 100 years ago.

Since organic is not a farming method, but rather more of a spiritual movement or a marketing campaign, it cannot really feed anyone. The practical political effect of the organic movement today is to promote free market libertarianism and personal choice consumerism, and that works against building public support for what is needed - a strengthened public agriculture infrastructure, and kicking the investors, speculators, marketers, and foodie zealots out of the food system.

[HBravo]

Britain only can supply about 60% of their needs which is up from about 40% before WWII and what they are good at grazing sheep, cattle and dairy is under attack by animal welfare groups.

[Bellator]

I couldn't decide whether to respond to this article. There is so much misinformation in the article. It comes across as fear mongering. I guess it is about time to start looking for big increases at the supermarket if these type articles are suddenly coming out again.

Yes, there are challenges in food production for the future. There have always been challenges in food production. But saying our soil is going to run out in 60 years? That is pure fear mongering......

I would put forward someting more sinister than soil erosion as a major culprit. Perhaps our food system is being corrupted by a few big players for massive profits.......that is the biggest threat I see right now.

[dixiegrrrrl]

...

I would put forward someting more sinister than soil erosion as a major culprit. Perhaps our food system is being corrupted by a few big players for massive profits.......that is the biggest threat I see right now.

I read just today how food commodity speculation is being done, with  derivatives.
Yep...derivatives based on commodity futures, no less.
 And guess who is in the middle of it?
AIG.

[Mike]

I guess it is about time to start looking for big increases at the supermarket if these type articles are suddenly coming out again.

Bingo. It still surprises me how easily people are led down this path again and again. The argument sounds sort of pro-environment, and as though it promoted sustainable farming - in the minds of those who do not understand either of those. All the time it is a cynical and intentional manipulation of people, it is cover for the hoarders and the monopolists, the investors and speculators who have commandeered the food system and are the source of the problems.

"Don't blame us, those few with power and wealth and control over the food system, for the problems! There are too many people and not enough resources! Therefore prices must go up, shortages are inevitable, and people must therefore regrettably starve. Never mind that we are driving farmers off of the land and people away from their sustainable communites and destroying the culture that supports those. Never mind that we are wasting and destroying food and the systems that produce food for the sake of the frantic pursuit of massive short term profits and return on investment. Do not look at any of that. Instead, see yourself as a dog, a frightened dog, and think in terms of there being too many dogs for the available bones. While you are holding the poor people of the world in contempt and blaming them, we will continue to exploit and destroy everything in our path."

[Bellator]

I guess it is about time to start looking for big increases at the supermarket if these type articles are suddenly coming out again.

Bingo. It still surprises me how easily people are led down this path again and again. The argument sounds sort of pro-environment, and as though it promoted sustainable farming - in the minds of those who do not understand either of those. All the time it is a cynical and intentional manipulation of people, it is cover for the hoarders and the monopolists, the investors and speculators who have commandeered the food system and are the source of the problems.

"Don't blame us, those few with power and wealth and control over the food system, for the problems! There are too many people and not enough resources! Therefore prices must go up, shortages are inevitable, and people must therefore regrettably starve. Never mind that we are driving farmers off of the land and people away from their sustainable communites and destroying the culture that supports those. Never mind that we are wasting and destroying food and the systems that produce food for the sake of the frantic pursuit of massive short term profits and return on investment. Do not look at any of that. Instead, see yourself as a dog, a frightened dog, and think in terms of there being too many dogs for the available bones. While you are holding the poor people of the world in contempt and blaming them, we will continue to exploit and destroy everything in our path."

These articles follow a certain pattern. Do you suppose they are put out by a think tank?
I have seen enough of these now over the last couple of years to immediately know the content. They use certain key words. Words that elicit emotion.

If you read between the lines it is all about scaring people. For most people this sounds legit. I understand the people getting upset. Under closer scrutiny it does not even come close to holding up. To many conflicting statements.

When I see these type articles my first thought is who is putting this out and for what purpose? Unfortunately I can never figure it out until after the fact. If even then. It seems to neutralize positive discussion.

[Jamastiene]

If their soil is eroding, can't they start hydroponic farms? As soon as the ice caps are finished melting, we might all need hydroponic farms.

[Mike]

These articles follow a certain pattern. Do you suppose they are put out by a think tank?
I have seen enough of these now over the last couple of years to immediately know the content. They use certain key words. Words that elicit emotion.

I know with certainty that they are. In my work with fruit growers, I heard first hand right wingers talking about how they do it, which buzz words to use, and how to get their propaganda into circulation with liberals and progressives.

If you read between the lines it is all about scaring people. For most people this sounds legit. I understand the people getting upset. Under closer scrutiny it does not even come close to holding up. To many conflicting statements.

Yep.

When I see these type articles my first thought is who is putting this out and for what purpose? Unfortunately I can never figure it out until after the fact. If even then. It seems to neutralize positive discussion. 

It is very effective at neutralizing any positive discussion.

[Nikki Stone 1]

...

I would put forward someting more sinister than soil erosion as a major culprit. Perhaps our food system is being corrupted by a few big players for massive profits.......that is the biggest threat I see right now.

I read just today how food commodity speculation is being done, with  derivatives.
Yep...derivatives based on commodity futures, no less.
 And guess who is in the middle of it?
AIG.

And Dixiegrrrl has the right answer!

[Mike]

...

I would put forward someting more sinister than soil erosion as a major culprit. Perhaps our food system is being corrupted by a few big players for massive profits.......that is the biggest threat I see right now.

I read just today how food commodity speculation is being done, with  derivatives.
Yep...derivatives based on commodity futures, no less.
 And guess who is in the middle of it?
AIG.

And Dixiegrrrl has the right answer!

I think that many do not grasp how this all works. Wall Street capital does not represent any particular business, it is more like a massive juggernaut for extracting the maximum possible wealth out of everything it touches, so of course the same players are behind all of the crises we face. The investors are (in aggregate, inevitably and relentlessly) seeking out new areas to exploit, and the food system is now under assault.  This is the end stage, the climactic and apocalyptic final chapter, dwarfing the health care crisis and the energy crisis and the environmental crisis and all of the other emergencies, as the final stage of separating people from their sustenance is now playing out.  Those of us who have been speaking about farming issues - this is so far beyond the organic and eat local and GMO causes that it isn't funny - have been frustrated that we could not interest people in the subject.  Food shortages, food contamination, food riots, hunger and starvation and massive social upheaval are now just around the corner, and everyone will become very interested in this.

[Bellator]

 I would like to follow up on this just a bit.
Last night I was invited to attend a local Agricultural event.....a celebration so to speak. I had my ticket purchased for me and told it was a wonderful event.

It was suits and dresses.....just the type of event I usually avoid. but I trusted it to be insightful......and oh was it ever.

500 people. Most people don't realize when we talk processed food....Cedar Rapids is quickly becoming the place to be. Do you know why corn and soybeans are processed? The seeds are taken apart and the most valuable components are sold off at high dollar. Then much of what is left is made into food for us to eat....it is mostly a byproduct from the extraction process.

We had a presentation. Sales from grain processing in this community have jumped from 14 billion to 20 billion in just 5 years. I think there are something over twenty different companies involved in various parts of the stream of processing. Most are fortune 500 companies. One company will do an initial process.....then downstream the next will process futher to remove something valuable to them to add to the food supply......then on downline to the next processor to extract something else. At some point there is still a supply of highly processed byproduct to be put somewhere......and I suppose there may be some nutritional value left.

As the presentation continued we then viewed research being done on this byproduct.....yep, you guessed it. It seems it can be sold to third world contries as a food source. I mean it has to be cheap right??

I suppose I was the only one seeing the irony out of the 500 or so people. We ate a meal fit for a King. Then we congratulate each other for feeding the third world with our byproducts.....truly disgusting........

[cornermouse]

Byproducts = fancy word for leftovers?