Adaption is the key (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Adaption is the key

10:51am Friday 20th February 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

THE world is a changing place - and it is changing faster than most people realise, Sir Ben Gill told the Great North Meet in Newcastle.

Sir Ben, former president of the National Farmers' Union, said farmers must keep an eye on what is happening and how it could affect their businesses.

He said the economic crisis has financially weakened America and Britain while China's economy has grown to the point where it has now overtaken Germany to become the third largest.

It had also become the "lender of last resort" as its foreign exchange reserves had increased to two trillion dollars - even Russia has half a trillion dollars - but America and Britain now have none.

India's economy was also growing rapidly, while Russia has growing influence and power in terms of oil and gas.

Sir Ben, who is managing director of the Hawk Creative Business Park at Easingwold, said China had been quietly seeking strategic alliances around the world over the last decade.

It now owned the worlds entire reserves of 17 key trace elements used in new technology.

In ten years time China is expected to have the largest population of English speaking people - all of India's students already speak English.

The growing populations of China and Asia and their growing affluence will lead to more food demands.

Security of food, water and energy supplies are all inter-linked and will become increasingly important. Sir Ben believes that will lead to protectionism.

Climate change was already affecting water supplies in different parts of the world.

China is building 1,000 mile long conduits to carry water to affected areas and, in ten years time if nothing is done, 36 states in America could have water shortages.

Cyprus and Barcelona were already importing water in tankers and building de-sanilisation plants to make sea water drinkable.

But Sir Ben said Britain was fortunate with its water supplies.

"We are particularly fortunate in the North because the people who built the Kielder dam 40 years ago created a resource for the North-East which is of far greater value than they could ever have envisaged," he said.

Because of that, he felt farmers may not realise that water shortages elsewhere could affect them.

He said Europe could impose controls on water, such as the irrigation of potatoes - possibly banning irrigation by air.

However Sir Ben said he was "incredibly positive" about the future for UK farming. Although there would be challenges there would be many opportunities.

He said the imbalance of power in the food chain, caused by the small excess of supply over demand, has allowed exploitation but will cease.

It will lead to a re-balance and farmers need to think how they can benefit from that.

Ends.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)