Changing diets are threat to farmers
WESTCOUNTRY farming could suffer a "severe decline" if Government health advice to cut back on red meat and dairy products succeeds, research says.
Researchers at the University of Reading say if policies such as urging consumers to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables each day were followed to the letter, demand for red meat would drop by 20 per cent and dairy products 40 per cent.
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Devon and Cornwall would be one of the regions worst affected because farmland is more suited to grazing animals than growing fruit and vegetables.
University of Reading's Prof Bruce Traill, who led the research project, said the potential "unintended consequences" of encouraging healthy eating habits had to be considered. A seismic shift in the nation's diet could mean 1.5 million fewer cattle were needed, vast swathes of land would turn to scrub and cause unemployment.
Prof Traill said: "Undoubtedly the UK Government has a duty to promote the health of the population and within this research project we have been looking at the most effective ways of doing that, whether by fiscal measures, social marketing, or by trying to enhance the nutritional qualities of the foods that people eat.
"There is potential in all of these approaches, if they are targeted effectively. But we do also have to consider the potential unintended consequences of policies. For rural communities, such as the dairy industry of south west England and upland areas of the UK, these could be far-reaching and need to be taken into account."
In an effort to counter the county's growing obesity problem and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions, Department of Health guidelines recommend eating more fruit and vegetables and cutting back on high-fat foods.
The study, funded by the UK Research Councils' Rural Economy and Land Use programme, suggests if everyone followed the advice the British landscape would alter dramatically. To meet demand for fruit, and assuming the proportion of imports remained constant, the UK would need 100,000 hectares of polytunnels.
But the research team argue increased demand is unlikely to create jobs as farmers would opt for machinery and, where labour is required, rely on casual workers.
Meanwhile, the researchers found the South West and Wales, where livestock farming dominates, would suffer a "severe decline" in production. Substantially fewer sheep and cattle would mean large areas not being grazed.
As such, there would be a negative knock-on effect for tourism as walkers and other visitors would be turned off by the landscapes covered in scrub and gorse and problems with access.
Upland areas would be abandoned, it goes on, and smaller farms would disappear and be absorbed into larger holdings. The agricultural supply chain would also feel the effects, in particular feed suppliers.
The research project conceded that, in reality, the population is some way off the healthy diet prescribed by UK and international guidelines.
A quarter of adults in the UK are obese and fruit and vegetable consumption needs to rise by a fifth to reach the minimum recommended level, it said.
Farming leaders in the Westcountry have long said the Government's message on healthy eating was far too simplistic. The Government's Food Standards Agency recommends "plenty" of fruit and vegetables and "some" milk, dairy foods and meat. Commentators pointed out that demonising products such as beef and milk risked causing people to overlook their nutritional benefits.
Milk and yoghurt are rich in calcium, magnesium and several B vitamins and beef is high in protein and iron.
Jilly Greed, South West spokesman for the National Beef Association, who farms at Thorverton, north of Exeter, said the Government's attitude to beef and dairy indicated it was "out-of-touch".
She added: "People are sick and tired of being told what to do. People will decided for themselves. There just has to be a balance struck."
Ian Johnson, spokesman for the National Farmers' Union in the South West, said the Government's advice was "a prime example of nanny state interference". He added: "People need a mixed and varied diet, it's unrealistic to think they would mindlessly follow legislation from the Government. People need vitamins from red meat and dairy produce or will find themselves at risk from vitamin and mineral deficiencies."
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by Will, Mid Devon
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 12:58PM
“George Clooney”
by Will, Mid Devon
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 12:55PM
“AG - they have identified two genes that are linked to higher body weight. Adults who possess both genes are, on average, 2 kg (4.4 lbs) heavier than those that don't - which isn't much, is it! For this to make the difference between a person of 'normal' weight, as judged by their body mass index (BMI), and 'obese' they would have to be considerably less than two feet tall! Of course, there is an 'overweight' category in between, but to describe the genes as 'obesity' genes as some have is just silly.
Also, BMI is a fairly crude yardstick - there is at least one notably good looking film star etc who are apparently obese by the BMI definition (can't recall his name at the moment!).
Some people have always been fatter than others, for whatever reason, and some tend to put on more weight than others with similar eating and exercise habits, but the difference is minute compared with the average increase in body weight (or BMI or whatever) over the last decades. As Charles says, this is largely due to people taking less exercise, but diet also has a lot to do with it - particularly an increase in consumption of convenience foods. Interestingly, more of the meat in convenience foods and pies etc tends to be imported compared to fresh meat, much of it produced from deforested land. But I expect that information will smack much too much of hippy and green for CH's liking!”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 11:38AM
“Bloody hell CH, we agree again, I need to go to the doctors, I might put on weight quicker than Neil. I don't suppose he knows that some people can eat the same amount and not put on as much as others. This is a medical fact, so sadly we are not all deliberate scoff pigs.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 8:34AM
“:| A creative thought for you Will? . . Have you considered getting a bicycle? . . They are all the rage now! . . . You can save the planet, and we can all eat properly. . Watch out for irritable vegetarians though; particularly as you are getting a bit hard-of-hearing.”
by Neil, Western Australia
Tuesday, June 02 2009, 6:32AM
“It is not the government job to instruct the population what to eat, it is entirely the responsibility of the individual,( children excepted), that is the responsibility of the parents. The simple reason that individuals become fat, yes we can still say fat, is that they eat too much. There is no mystery about it. They eat too much and exercise too little. There is a mention of fiscal measures, hit fat people in the hip pocket, all airline passengers should be weighed with their luggage, and be charged accordingly, that should encourage, some moderation in excessive eating. Instead of sitting in front of the TV watching mind numbing crap, take the dog for a walk, go for a run, ride a bike, just do something healthy. Now!”
by Will, Mid Devon
Monday, June 01 2009, 10:00PM
“Oops! The two comments I referred to seem to have disappeared. Still, nothing the like of which we haven't heard before - a hundred times.”
by Will, Mid Devon
Monday, June 01 2009, 9:51PM
“Two very creative comments, Mr Henry - how effectively you put us in our place!
I don't need to lose weight, thanks very much, I eat a healthy, balanced diet and take plenty of exercise. How about you? You sound a bit constipated to me.”
by Will, Mid Devon
Monday, June 01 2009, 7:59PM
“As usual, we have polar argument impeding sensible discussion. No one except organizations like Viva are saying we should give up meat altogether, just that we should cut down on average. We may be sick of being told what to do but some of us are sick of watching obese people tucking into inch-thick slabs of cheese and steaks that cover three-quarters of a dinner plate, who are on cocktails of pills to control their heart conditions and/or diabetes at massive expense to the NHS and the public purse. As someone who's grandfather and father both died at an early age through colon cancer I am very conscious of the importance of maintaining a healthy balanced diet.
We would be far better concerning ourselves with meat and dairy product quality rather than quantity. Farmers could produce meat and dairy products mainly or solely from grass, reducing the carbon footprint of their enterprises and increasing the nutritional value of the products, for which they could charge a premium by selling local - as many are already doing.
Let's have less if this pompous knee-jerk 'it's a nanny state' reaction and a bit more creative thought.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Monday, June 01 2009, 5:50PM
“:| A nice bit of pig's liver once a week and a really good sirloin steak should sort out all your deficiencies Perterb. . You clearly need some brain food. . Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids found in protein foods like meat and cheese. . All good farm foods you see. . I suppose it gives us an unfair advantage really.”
by peterb, totnes
Monday, June 01 2009, 2:26PM
“Charles Henry, missing the point as always, never able to see further than his own bigotry, best reason ever for not taking UKIP seriously.”