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> But people will not pay 10x or more for British rice. Unless and until it's the only carbohydrate source available due to some global war or disaster. All co

> But people will not pay 10x or more for British rice. Unless and until it's the only carbohydrate source available due to some global war or disaster. All countries should be aiming for domestic food security and diversity.

dzhiurgis 1y ago
And fuel diversity. And manufacturing diversity. And mineral extraction diversity. And so on and on. But at which point this becomes ridiculous?
- closewith 1y ago
  The UK Energy Security Plan does at least try to cover essential energy needs (food production, hospitals, defence, civil powers and authorities, etc) indefinitely from domestic supply. The Defence Industrial Strategy does the same for essential manufacturing capabilities. Raw material supply security is the purview of many government bodies, including MOD, BGS, and more. > But at which point this becomes ridiculous? Securing the food supply to your population, the absolute most basic of human needs along with the water and shelter, is the furthest thing from ridiculous.
rob_c 1y ago
> British > domestic food security and diversity. Aside from switzerland who else is so well placed for this in geographical Europe? ITS AN ISLAND
- closewith 1y ago
  Britain can't feed itself. Blockade is the greatest threat to Britain. Most EU countries can feed feed themselves.
  - rob_c 1y ago
    I've got a lovely bridge to sell you, only slightly used... Please educate yourself because that statement is just factually incorrect. That's not a talking point, that's just wrong.
    - closewith 1y ago
      I am a former knowledgeable CBRN person and sat on advisory panels for my own countries energy, food, and medical security policies, so while certainly not a food security expert, I probably have more exposure than most to the food security challenges of island nations in the East Atlantic. Great Britain, which excludes NI, has a roughly 60% calorie self-sufficiency ratio and quite literally cannot feed itself without imports. Ireland and Northern Ireland can many times over, in principle even if spare parts and fuel were blockaded, although it would be an uninspiring diet. I am certainly open to further education as this area interests me and my country is woefully unprepared for any interruption to global supply chains, especially in relation to fuel and medical supplies, so I continue to make policy submissions in this area.
      - rob_c 1y ago
        No. That's comparing production means today with an inflated population due to uncontrolled migration. (Main confronting factor to pop growth in last few years so can't be avoided as topic). Comparing blockade numbers to peace time production is a false equivalency. Am I saying there won't be unrest no, but you just started a scenario by blockading Britain. If you think we don't produce enough food, it's about the only thing we actual do produce here other than empty city promises and patents. The country would eat itself before the means of food production hits the top 5 of our problems if honestly bet. The country has capacity to engage in intensive farming of several means which we currently do not because of animal rights concerns, lack of manpower etc. In a blockade scenario animal rights go out the window to a starving populace. Food waste is addressed in several means and we start engaging in battery farming and crop yields yes move to calorific content vs serving the Ritz their flav d'jour. And let's not pretend NI is included under any sensible scenario other than the British military blockading and subsuming control of RoI. There's no scenario where a blockade of Britain as an island would leave us "struggling to feed NI with RoI being supported by the European block" as another absolutist.

dzhiurgis 1y ago

And fuel diversity. And manufacturing diversity. And mineral extraction diversity. And so on and on. But at which point this becomes ridiculous?

closewith 1y ago
The UK Energy Security Plan does at least try to cover essential energy needs (food production, hospitals, defence, civil powers and authorities, etc) indefinitely from domestic supply. The Defence Industrial Strategy does the same for essential manufacturing capabilities. Raw material supply security is the purview of many government bodies, including MOD, BGS, and more. > But at which point this becomes ridiculous? Securing the food supply to your population, the absolute most basic of human needs along with the water and shelter, is the furthest thing from ridiculous.

rob_c 1y ago

> British > domestic food security and diversity. Aside from switzerland who else is so well placed for this in geographical Europe? ITS AN ISLAND

closewith 1y ago
Britain can't feed itself. Blockade is the greatest threat to Britain. Most EU countries can feed feed themselves.
- rob_c 1y ago
  I've got a lovely bridge to sell you, only slightly used... Please educate yourself because that statement is just factually incorrect. That's not a talking point, that's just wrong.
  - closewith 1y ago
    I am a former knowledgeable CBRN person and sat on advisory panels for my own countries energy, food, and medical security policies, so while certainly not a food security expert, I probably have more exposure than most to the food security challenges of island nations in the East Atlantic. Great Britain, which excludes NI, has a roughly 60% calorie self-sufficiency ratio and quite literally cannot feed itself without imports. Ireland and Northern Ireland can many times over, in principle even if spare parts and fuel were blockaded, although it would be an uninspiring diet. I am certainly open to further education as this area interests me and my country is woefully unprepared for any interruption to global supply chains, especially in relation to fuel and medical supplies, so I continue to make policy submissions in this area.
    - rob_c 1y ago
      No. That's comparing production means today with an inflated population due to uncontrolled migration. (Main confronting factor to pop growth in last few years so can't be avoided as topic). Comparing blockade numbers to peace time production is a false equivalency. Am I saying there won't be unrest no, but you just started a scenario by blockading Britain. If you think we don't produce enough food, it's about the only thing we actual do produce here other than empty city promises and patents. The country would eat itself before the means of food production hits the top 5 of our problems if honestly bet. The country has capacity to engage in intensive farming of several means which we currently do not because of animal rights concerns, lack of manpower etc. In a blockade scenario animal rights go out the window to a starving populace. Food waste is addressed in several means and we start engaging in battery farming and crop yields yes move to calorific content vs serving the Ritz their flav d'jour. And let's not pretend NI is included under any sensible scenario other than the British military blockading and subsuming control of RoI. There's no scenario where a blockade of Britain as an island would leave us "struggling to feed NI with RoI being supported by the European block" as another absolutist.