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| Food |
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| In the past |
 The overriding priority for the UK`s agriculture has been high levels of food production and low prices in the shops.
- Self-sufficiency in food production was seen as part of our national security.
- The farmer`s job was to produce high yields to satisfy a protected market.
- Through subsidies, economic, social and environmental policy, successive Governments encouraged this intensive food production.
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| Today |
We live in a different world:
- Food is a global commodity, its price governed by world economic forces in an open market.
- People are increasingly concerned about the safety of what they eat and the environmental effects of growing it.
- Bulk production and distribution of food limits choice for producers and consumers.
- The costs of dealing with the environmental impact of producing and transporting food are not being included its price, but have to be paid by farmers.
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| In a sustainable future |
Food growers, producers and consumers, must take account of:
- Food prices that are dependent on international factors such as non-fixed exchange rates and commodity prices.
- Farmers` need for realistic alternative outlets in addition to supermarkets.
- Farmers` need for direct access to consumers to be able to respond to demand.
- Paying the real price for food, including invisible environmental costs such as transport, packaging, and disposal.
- Balancing the consumer demand for cheap food with their demand for high food standards, high animal welfare standards and environmental care.
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