Prepping - Food Security and Pollinators

A survey finds that between 2004 and 2021 there have been huge declines in the number of insect "splats per mile" on cars in the UK, with the fall particularly bad in England

A UK citizen science survey has found the number of flying insects splatted on cars dropped by 58.5 per cent between 2004 and 2021,

The rate of decline is similar to that reported by a 2017 study, which found a 76 per cent drop in flying insect biomass in Germany over 27 years.

University College London (UCL), the combination of rising temperatures due to climate change and land-use changes are directly linked to widespread losses in insect species around the world. ​​

Despite the vastness of its research, which included 750,000 records from nearly 20,000 insect species, the team says its findings are just the tip of the iceberg

https://modernfarmer.com/2022/05/insect-populations-declining-agriculture/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2318621-flying-insects-splatting-on-cars-have-dropped-by-60-per-cent-in-uk/

https://modernfarmer.com/2022/05/insect-populations-declining-agriculture/

STRUGGLING BRITISH PIG INDUSTRY CALLS FOR TESCO TO STEP-UP

The trade body for Britain's pig industry on Thursday told Tesco, the country’s biggest supermarket group, it needs to do more to support struggling producers or risk losing its UK pork supply base.
Mutimer said UK pork producers were currently facing unprecedented losses as costs of production soar due to record pig feed prices on the back of higher wheat prices caused by the war in Ukraine.

It currently costs an estimated 203-216p per kg to produce a pig, a figure forecast to rise even higher, as wheat prices continue to rise due to disruption caused by war in Ukraine. Yet average pig prices remain below 170p/kg, meaning many producers are losing tens of thousands pounds each week.

Retailers hold the key to injecting more money into the supply chain and several of Tesco’s competitors, recognising the vital role they play in supporting British farmers, have re- sponded to NPA calls to increase their pig price. The Co-op, M&S, ALDI, ASDA, Morri- sons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose are now paying more for British pork through their dedicated supply chains.
But Tesco, the UK’s biggest retailer, which has just announced a trebling of profits to more than £2bn, is yet to respond to the crisis hurting its pig suppliers.

http://www.npa-uk.org.uk/NPA_calls_for_Tesco_support_as_four_out_of_five_British_pig_farmers_are_set_to_go_bust.html
https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/struggling-british-pig-industry-calls-for-tesco-to-step-up

Food security does not require self sufficiency

George Eustice wrote an op-ed in the Telegraph on Easter Saturday entitled We will help British farmers fill British

https://www.briefingsforbritain.co.uk/food-security-does-not-require-self-sufficiency/