In fairness it's not that simple. Do we (EU citizens) want to be dependent totally on external sources of food in the same way that we are at the mercy of Russia/Mid East for our energy? What happens when our food source is taken over by a more hostile government?Then why don't they quit farming and go into another profession/industry where rewards are more comensurate with their efforts?
If only someone would invent the greenhouseFrom a consumer viewpoint - expecting foods that are out of season to be on supermarket shelves will not be on.
What, you mean adults making their own decisions in a free market?! That's not the socialist way!How about removing the subsidies and letting the consumer decide if they want to pay higher prices for locally produced goods or not?
I think there's merit in a nation being able to feed itself. I like the idea of food security (and energy/fuel security for that matter). If that requires support for farmers (and fishermen) through subsidies then so be it. I hate that we're paying farmers and fishermen to give up their livelihoods.How about removing the subsidies and letting the consumer decide if they want to pay higher prices for locally produced goods or not?
Why do you think that all farmers would be forced out of the market? I don't think that this is possible.I for one would pay extra. I live in rural Ireland and there is plenty of farms around. If these farmers are forced out of the market than we will have to rely on low grade mass produced meat or non irish meat.
In fairness it's not that simple. Do we (EU citizens) want to be dependent totally on external sources of food in the same way that we are at the mercy of Russia/Mid East for our energy? What happens when our food source is taken over by a more hostile government?
I for one would pay extra. I live in rural Ireland and there is plenty of farms around. If these farmers are forced out of the market than we will have to rely on low grade mass produced meat or non irish meat.
we'll all be eating dodgy brazilian beef and imported chicken etc...do you really fancy the idea of eating a piece of lettuce that has travelled thousands of miles to get to your plate as opposed to one that was grown in Rush?
What leads you to this conclusion?Left to the market we'd get low quality mass produced stuff that is not traceable.
there has been a large increase in farmers markets...
How about removing the subsidies and letting the consumer decide if they want to pay higher prices for locally produced goods or not?
Good opening for farmers so; they can take the producers margin and the sellers margin....within which the vast majority of traders are neither farmers nor food producers.
The supermarkets sell what the customer wants. If the market wants good quality traceable food then that's what they will sell.The consumer will pay heavily for this privilege, unless they want to eat untraceable meat, poultry & dairy products from the Third World. The likes of Tesco will, as normal, pocket the additional margins and the consumer will save nothing.
...within which the vast majority of traders are neither farmers nor food producers.
the reality is that only for the subsidies, there would be a real reduction of farmers in ireland...the real problem is the discrepency between the prices that the farmer gets paid at source compared the price that the consumer pays in the supermarket...the middle men are cleaning up. go to a local stock mart and see exactly how much a whole sheep will fetch, then go to the supermarket and see how much a leg will cost!!
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