anywebsite Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Britain's food imports came to pounds 6bn more than its food exports in 1994. The trade deficit in food, feed and drink widened slightly in 2013 to £21.3 billion. It is £3.7 billion higher than in 2005. So it's fallen in real terms since 2005, hasn't kept up with general inflation. £17.6bn in 2005 is worth £23.6bn of today's pounds. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html We have had to import food for centuries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfisa Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 So it's fallen in real terms since 2005, hasn't kept up with general inflation. £17.6bn in 2005 is worth £23.6bn of today's pounds. http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1633409/Historic-inflation-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html We have had to import food for centuries. But more than doubled since 1994 according your inflation calculator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppet2 Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Why is a supermarket tuna more expensive than a local fresh one? They're both caught in the same place, yet supermarket tuna are sent to China to be gutted and washed before being shipped back to the uk?! Same with our apples, they're shipped to Africa, just to be waxed before being shipped back here to be sold! Again, look into Helena Norberg-Hodge. Very eye opening! If this were the case, I would gladly buy some of the more expensive farmer's market produce, for the freshness alone, but supermarket food is cheaper than farmers market food. The majority of people can't afford farmer's market prices! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discodown Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 What would life be like without big corporations? Do we need them? Would it be possible for us to live without supermarkets and the brands that they sell? Would our economy be better off if we cut them out and bought our produce from local suppliers and producers? Meat from butchers, fruit and veg from local grocers? Regardless of the convenience that supermarkets bring, would you rather use local products? Sheffield has some amazing local products, from meat, to beers, veg and fruit, to clothing companies and restaurants. Opinions? Did you type this on your iphone or your windows laptop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzijlstra Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 But more than doubled since 1994 according your inflation calculator. So has our taste for different foods that we can't grow here. Overall food consumption per capita is up by a massive amount as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harrystottle Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Big corporations, if they don't actually rule the world certainly have a massive influence on politicians. No big media outlet will discuss how globalisation started or continues, because that would cast an unfavourable light on our political elites and on our system of "democracy". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfisa Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 (edited) So has our taste for different foods that we can't grow here. Overall food consumption per capita is up by a massive amount as well. 6% since 1990 from 3240 kcal per day to 3440 kcal per day. It was 2229 in 1700, 2977Kcal in 1910, 3280 Kcal in 1960, so it has not grown significantly. Edited January 3, 2015 by anfisa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzijlstra Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 6% since 1990 from 3240 kcal per day to 3440 kcal per day. Which when you calculate the total amount that food has gone up amounts to a bigger rise than that of the imported food stuffs, despite an increased diversity in the food that we eat. But it isn't exactly relevant, the simple fact is that food-distribution is global. The only way to feed the entire world population successfully is by optimising growing seasons globally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anfisa Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Which when you calculate the total amount that food has gone up amounts to a bigger rise than that of the imported food stuffs, despite an increased diversity in the food that we eat. But it isn't exactly relevant, the simple fact is that food-distribution is global. The only way to feed the entire world population successfully is by optimising growing seasons globally. I agree and even then it is a bit of a struggle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biotechpete Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 Tz mentioned cars, tech etc. I think this one is much more difficult, particularly the technology thing. We could still manufacturer cheap cars in the UK, but do we still manufacturer TV and such like? I really don't think we could produce cars, less still do it cheaply. The ones we build are manufactured by foreign corporations and a large amount of the components are imported. I don't know, but I doubt we could produce enough steel or plastic from the raw materials we have to make it economical. The same problem goes for tech and electronics. We manufacture chips and components but we import the raw materials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now