Food and Farming question from Michael Bentley, fruit farmer

At the Future of Local Food and Farming debate that took place at Newent Community School on 3 April 2009, Michael Bentley put the following question to the panel:

Over the last 50 years yields in the UK have doubled in most basic commodities due to plant breeding and application of technologies. Food is now so cheap that it is only about 10% of the cost of living. However, agriculture is very dependent on fossil fuels.  What government action can be taken to enable us as farmers to farm more sustainably within the market economy, to produce food that the consumer can afford.

Listen to an audio recording of the question and answer.

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