Food security, put simply, is the state of having reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. While the UK benefits from a successful agricultural industry, many domestic and international factors affect food production and prices for consumers. This became evident during the world food price spike of 2008.
A successful agricultural industry gives the perception that food security isn’t at risk in the UK. But the country is only around 58 percent self-sufficient and is reliant on imports from countries all over the world. This has caused a trade deficit of £24 billion in food.
This fact is magnified by the uncertainty of Brexit in the UK, with a no-deal agreement bad for security and bad for business. The recent pandemic has also made it harder to import foods from global locations, and food that is shipped over is taking longer in transit.
Lockdown restrictions have also left farming and food production in a situation where it needs to bounce back from the crisis of the pandemic. How can restaurant owners who live rurally can help the UK’s food security problem.
The Current Climate
Around 84 percent of fruit and 46 percent of vegetables consumed in the country are imported. While Brexit and COVID-19 threaten a steady supply to urban areas, problems created by climate change also risk disrupting imports of food from abroad.
Climate change can reduce global food access and affect its quality. An increase in temperature, change in precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability can result in reduced agricultural productivity.
For those who own a restaurant and live in a rural location, the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables in allotments, gardens and other accessible land is one that not only gives you a fresh supply of food when they need it but a chance to be part of something bigger — helping increase food security.
Grow Your Own, Off-Grid
To grow fruit and vegetables, ample space and good quality soil are required. Although it might not be possible to grow bananas or pineapples — due to average UK temperatures — apples, pears and strawberries can be on the menu.
Apple trees are probably the easiest fruit trees to grow and one of the most popular with gardeners. Thousands of varieties can be produced, but they tend to fall into two categories — either dessert or cookers, with the latter perfect for cooking with. Some are even-dual purpose.
Pears also follow a similar growth pattern to apples and don’t fall far from the tree. Strawberries are also easy to grow and can even be produced from hanging baskets.
In the world of vegetables, the humble potato is a popular choice for growing on home soil. Versatile as chips, roast potatoes, and mash, an ample supply of spuds whenever you need them is a great way to reduce the reliance on farmer and supermarket supplies.
In fact, everything from chilli peppers to radishes can be grown at home, giving you a wide variety of vegetables to choose from. To help people learn how to grow their own, the Royal Horticultural Society has an A-to-Z list of fruit and vegetables on their website, as well as guides on how to grow them.
Not only can fruit and vegetables provide a good food source, but it can become part of your restaurant identity. A 2017 survey from food buying company Beacon, showed that more than half of consumers would pay more for local British produce.
After such a tough year for restaurants, having the unique selling point of being able to grow your own produce and put it on your menu, when restrictions allow it, could be a great way for gaining customers new and old.
Not only is it good for your restaurant, but it gives you a steady supply of food for the home too. This can be used to master recipes or even come up with new dishes if your restaurant remains shut for the time being.
Home gardening can play an important role in advancing food security during and after the pandemic. It can also strengthen the provisioning of the UK food ecosystem. Although homegrown fruit and vegetables aren’t the definitive answer for improving the 58 percent self-sufficient rate, it’s a good start for those living off-grid. Something that could be for your menu, or just a hobby that helps put more food on the table without the reliance on imports or straining supply chains.
Sources
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/urban-farming-flourish-post-pandemic/
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