Grow your own a good idea, says lecturer

A self-sufficient food supply model offers another sustenance source, moving away from reliance on importation.

Dependence on other countries for food leads to the phenomena of panic-buying and hoarding during crises as supply security becomes uncertain.

Lockdown restrictions offer an opportunity to grow from home, either planting in gardens or potting indoors.

Dr David Nally is a researcher on food politics and a senior lecturer at the University of Cambridge.

Having lived in Guernsey for nine months, he said: ‘Guernsey has great potential to grow more food as it had to during the Second World War. You might be surprised at the productivity of small allotments, even when compared to large-scale commercial production.’

Guernsey supermarkets rely on importation from the UK, which itself imports around 50% of its produce.

‘It’s difficult to say how long the current public health crisis will continue for, and how severally it will affect UK food supplies.’

Guernsey’s supply chains are strong and extra provisions were made to prioritise freight importations during the pandemic.

Home growing may not be necessary, but could offer an extra safety net to relieve pressure and alleviate consumer anxiety.

‘It also keeps people active, improves mental health and deepens our connection to the natural world,’ Dr Nally said.

In re-adopting agriculture, every avenue of communal knowledge could be utilised, along with our growing spaces.

‘Garden centres have seeds now languishing on shelves,’ said Dr Nally.

‘Underused greenhouses and farmland could be requisitioned to grow produce.

‘Retired farmers could be asked to help with knowledge and advice.

‘Locals with a good grasp of sustainable small scale farming practices could also be called on.

‘Ordinary citizens could be encouraged to grow more produce in their back gardens.

‘But all this requires planning and action before the situation worsens.’

Globally an intricate trade network allows a just-in-time food supply system which ‘is vulnerable because it presupposes that other countries will feed us’.

‘I can’t stress enough that these weaknesses in the industrial food system pre-date Covid-19. The public health crisis is therefore a stressor or accelerator of existing problems.’

Usually if a resource cannot be shipped from one country, it can be sourced from another.

Countries can stop exporting food and commodities to ensure supply at a low price to protect citizens, which is known as food nationalism.

European Union member supply is predicted to be safe.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Vietnam, Serbia, Cambodia, India, Egypt, and other Eurasian countries have restricted exports so far.

. No response was given by the Co-op and Waitrose when asked how reliant their supply is on the UK.