Britain's scorched fields mean a food crisis – and the government is ignoring the one measure that would help | George Monbiot
This summer’s extreme weather and wars in Iran and Ukraine have made our need for food stockpiles more pressing than ever When a business makes long-term plans, they call it prudence. When a government makes long-term plans, they call it communism. Any sustained state intervention attracts the prefix “Soviet-style”, and triggers vicious attacks across the billionaire media. So governments have…
This summer, the combination of extreme weather and conflicts in Iran and Ukraine has intensified the urgency for food stockpiles. Businesses often prioritize prudence in their long-term plans, but governments are often criticized for doing the same, being labeled as "communist" in the process. Any significant state intervention is met with skepticism and fierce criticism, leading to a bias against long-term thinking in government policies.
This may explain why the UK, currently experiencing parched soils, now faces what market analysts warn is the most severe food security crisis in decades. Historically, domestic crop failures have not threatened national security in Britain, thanks to global trade. However, this year is different as the issue has become global. George Monbiot, a Guardian columnist, continues to highlight this concerning trend.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
