According to theguardian.com, a recent study has revealed that over half of the UK's food is coming from abroad and the importation of this food is having a negative environmental impact on poorer countries.
South America, the EU and south East Asia are among the places from which the UK sources its food. More than two-thirds of the land needed to produce the UK’s food and feed is based abroad, researchers said, meaning 64% of the related greenhouse gases are emitted on foreign soil.
Since 1986, the size of this land has grown by 23% to match increasing demand, with associated CO2 emissions rising by 15%, the research published in theJournal of the Royal Society Interface states.
But the report adds that, although this import trend saddles developing countries with environmental damage, it facilitates economic development through international trade.
Scientists believe the increasing reliance on foreign food could also make it more difficult for the UK to become self-sufficient.
It comes after figures from the National Farmers’ Union released last year suggested that, by the mid-2040s, the country will only be able to produce enough food to feed 53% of its population.
The report, authored by Henri de Ruiter, Jennie Macdiarmid, Robin Matthews, Thomas Kastner and Pete Smith, said: “Theoretically, the UK could achieve full self-sufficiency; however, this would imply drastic shifts in consumption patterns away from stimulant crops, animal products and many types of fruit and vegetables, which may not be feasible or acceptable.”
