On Wednesday I was at a meeting where DEFRA presented their Food Strategy 2030.

DEFRA food strategy

The fact that the strategy exists and presents a rounded view of the issue is a massive step forward from the days when DEFRA was the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and everything was presented from the perspective of the British Farmer.

This strategy talks about the need to create informed consumers who are aware of and can afford to buy sustainable and healthy food.

At this early stage of the strategy’s development solid, practical details are few and far between, and it is when the debate reaches this point that DEFRA’s troubles could begin. For example, sometimes healthy and sustainable are not compatible. The DCSF, for instance, is encouraging children to eat more fish for health reasons without considering the impact on our fish stocks. 

It is also unclear what the strategy means for the GM debate. I have a feeling that this discussion will mirror what has happened in the nuclear argument, when the initial fierce reaction is overcome by arguments around the need to feed a growing world population, and by a lack of evidence to show that GM foods impact upon people’s health – although the jury is definitely still out about wider environmental impacts.

One area where the strategy is very weak is that it does not reflect the huge up-surge there has been in community-based food growing initiatives and which could certainly be one of the ways that we create a more sustainable food supply.

The power of nature

My house is one of the many homes that sit under the Heathrow flight path. This weekend we have been treated to clear blue skies and an almost eerie tranquillity. 

The volcanic eruption in Iceland has caught everybody by surprise and clearly demonstrates that, despite our technological advances, the power of nature can be massively disruptive. Hopefully people will reflect on this as we continue to play the carbon experiment with our atmosphere which scientists predict will lead to more extreme weather.

One of the messages that Global Action Plan is increasingly trying to get across is that a sustainable lifestyle is a more resilient lifestyle, and will reduce the vagaries of price variations that people could face in the future. 

The closure of our air space is already beginning to hit perishable goods and exotic fruits that are normally flown in from abroad. The UK currently imports about 90% of its fruit and 60% of its vegetables, a more sustainable future will see a higher percentage of these produced locally.

Ethical cleaners

On Saturday I was one of the judges for an UnLtd award. The winner was a woman called Yasmin. Her idea is to create an ethical cleaning company where cleaners are taught to use the least polluting products, where they are paid well above the minimum wage, and where they receive high quality training.

Getting the idea off the ground and making the numbers stack-up is going to be a huge challenge, but I think it is a great idea.

From an environmental point-of view cleaners are a vital part of the chain. Well-trained cleaners can ensure that the waste recycling systems work, they can act as energy monitors and they can ensure that their resource impact is minimised. 

From a social point-of view, cleaners can often be exploited, they can have a very fast staff turnover and receive little training or career development.  Trying to bring ethical credentials to this often over-looked sector is really important and I wish Yasmin every luck in her ambitions.

UK Aware

On Friday and Saturday a large swathe of Global Action Plan staff were at the UK Aware event, who had chosen us as their charity partner.

We had a scarily large display area which we managed to fill with our EcoInteractive displays including the energy bike, eco driving simulators, carbon gym and some new displays from our interactive suitcase – which proved so popular that we are going to have to somehow make them all a little more robust. The unintentional destructive power of children is something to behold.  

Alongside the displays was a continuous round of workshops, competitions and a pub quiz. Seeing all these activities brought together and witnessing the huge amount of energy and commitment of all the people at the stand made me incredibly proud.

I truly do think we have a unique and successful formula for communicating difficult environmental issues. The event got me thinking as to how we could use all our materials at other events and perhaps at summer schools for children. Much to ponder.

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