Can Cardiff Feed Itself PDF - Michele - Land - P-POD # 1

8/3/2019 Can Cardiff Feed Itself PDF - Michele - Land - P-POD # 1

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Can Cardiff Feed itself?

P-POD & Cardiff Transition

present

60% of its vegetables60% of its vegetables [1][1]

95% of its fruit95% of its fruit [1][1]

Most of the wheat in our breadMost of the wheat in our bread [2][2]

Currently the UK importsCurrently the UK imports

[1]DEFRA 2005[2]http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drin

k/real_food/article6098277.ece

So given that we are so heavilySo given that we are so heavily

dependent on imported fooddependent on imported food

What would happen?What would happen?

if we had a sudden shutif we had a sudden shut

down of oil suppliesdown of oil supplies

couldCard

iff

fee

ditself?


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In August 2000 farmers and truckIn August 2000 farmers and truck

drivers angered by the rising cost ofdrivers angered by the rising cost of

fuel were blockading fuel depotsfuel were blockading fuel depots

across the country.across the country.

In Whitehall civil servants & politicians were toldIn Whitehall civil servants & politicians were told

that the shelves of all of the biggest supermarketsthat the shelves of all of the biggest supermarketswould be empty in 3 days.would be empty in 3 days.

In effect we were

9 meals away from anarchyLord Cameron of Dillington, former head of the Countryside Agency

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastatedIn 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastatedthe city of New Orleans.the city of New Orleans.

The days that followed saw widespread looting ofThe days that followed saw widespread looting offood by people desperate to feed themselves andfood by people desperate to feed themselves andtheir families.their families.

This was in the richest countryThis was in the richest country in the world.in the world.

And an internal strike orAnd an internal strike or

blockade will be resolvedblockade will be resolvedeventuallyeventually

But with our country so heavilyBut with our country so heavilydependent on food importsdependent on food importswhat happens when a hungrywhat happens when a hungryworld stops exporting?world stops exporting?

It is unlikely that we willIt is unlikely that we willexperience a Hurricaneexperience a HurricaneKatrina in Britain.Katrina in Britain.

Unprecedented droughts and unseasonable rainsUnprecedented droughts and unseasonable rains

More land being used to produce biofuelsMore land being used to produce biofuels

An increasing demand for a more energy intensive dietAn increasing demand for a more energy intensive diet

Declining world food stockpilesDeclining world food stockpiles

Investments in food commodities decreasedInvestments in food commodities decreased

In 2008 a complex perfect storm ofIn 2008 a complex perfect storm ofcolliding events resulted in a worldcolliding events resulted in a world

grain shortage.grain shortage.


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Because of the shortages severalBecause of the shortages several

grain producing countries acrossgrain producing countries across

the world decided to stop or restrictthe world decided to stop or restrict

the exporting of their grain.the exporting of their grain.

What if this perfect stormWhat if this perfect stormof colliding events changesof colliding events changesfrom the unusualfrom the unusualto the norm?to the norm?

How does Cardiff withstand this type ofHow does Cardiff withstand this type of

shock to its own food security?shock to its own food security?

Could Cardiff Feed Itself?Could Cardiff Feed Itself?

Some important statsSome important stats

In 2010 Cardiff Unitary Authority areaspopulation was estimated to be just over 340,000

Cardiff has very few areas of agricultural land and

because of this could not in itself within its ownboundaries ever feed itself

However, the rest of Wales is far less populatedand with far more agricultural land available, soreframing the question to Can Wales FeedCardiff (and itself)? improves the outlookconsiderably

PhD student Amber Wheeler is researching the question

Could and Should Wales Feed Itself?.

pilot analysis on St Davids Peninsula

latest research into a healthy diet done by WWF and the

Rowett Institute

This diet is called The Livewell 2020 diet.

The Livewell 2020 diet is the first diet analysis that

combines healthy living and minimising greenhouse gas

emissions.

Using this diet Amber has created a formula where 1

organic hectare will feed 4.6 people.

Current researchCurrent research


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The LiveWell 2020 DietThe LiveWell 2020 Diet

Source: http://plantedcity.tumblr.com/post/3021421240/ food-

for-a-future-the-livewell-2020-diet-an

The LiveWell 2020 DietThe LiveWell 2020 Diet

Source: http://plantedcity.tumblr.com/post/3021421240/ food-

for-a-future-the-livewell-2020-diet-an

Some more important statsSome more important stats

Wales has population of just over3,000,000 people

Its land mass is over 2,000,000hectares, of which 13.4% is beingused for arable (DEFRA 2002)

Therefore approximately 270,000hectares are deemed suitable forgrowing a range of crops

Most of the rest is deemed suitablefor grazing (DEFRA 2002)

Based on the LiveWell 2020 diet, Amber hasBased on the LiveWell 2020 diet, Amber hasdeveloped a formula where 1 organic hectare willdeveloped a formula where 1 organic hectare will

feed 4.6 people.feed 4.6 people.

Another way of putting this is about 1/5 organicAnother way of putting this is about 1/5 organic

hectare will feed 1 person.hectare will feed 1 person.

Of this 1/5 organic hectare, just over half is neededOf this 1/5 organic hectare, just over half is needed

for arable (0.119 of a hectare) and just under half isfor arable (0.119 of a hectare) and just under half is

needed for pasture (0.098 of a hectare).needed for pasture (0.098 of a hectare).

Some of the arable is used for growing food forSome of the arable is used for growing food for

animals as well as humans.animals as well as humans.


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population x hectares / head3,000,000 x 0.119 hectares

= 357,000 hectares required

270,000 hectares available

LetLets do the mathss do the maths

Arable landArable land

87,000 shortfall

3,000,000 x 0.098 hectares= 294,000 hectares required1,650,000 hectares available


population x hectares / head

LetLets do the mathss do the maths

Grazing landGrazing land

1,356,000 surplus

Some conclusionsSome conclusions

Potential Options:

There are opportunities hereto re-examine this use of land

and look at a more diverse

usage. These could include

looking at the potential of:

So Wales produces a surplus of meat for itsneeds but has a possible shortfall of justover 1/3rd for its fruit, veg & grain requirements.

Wales & the UK has in the past

been much more heavily forested

There is proven potential toestablish edible forestgardens in areas notdeemed suitable for arableproduction.

edible forest gardens


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less sheep per hectare

If less sheep were grazed there

would be less need to feed them

supplementary food grown on

arable land.

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php?title=File:

Grassland,_by_NUTS_2_regions,_2005_Hectares_per_1_000_hectares_of_total_area.PNG&filetimestamp=20090430100002

a shift from cowsmilk to sheeps milk

Cows are grazed on flatter areas

than sheep if we consumed

more sheep's milk than cows milk

than we could free up more land

for growing crops for people.

http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php?title=File:

Grassland,_by_NUTS_2_regions,_2005_Hectares_per_1_000_hectares_of_total_area.PNG&filetimestamp=20090430100002

Further potential lies in urban spaces

and back gardens to provide fruit and

veg.

Rob Miller

Can Cardiff Feed Itself PDF - Michele - Land - P-POD # 1

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