The Rising Cost of Food

Agricultural and food prices are on the up.

Sharp price increases of wheat and oil, and indeed other basic food commodities, all point towards a marked transformation that is occurring in the cost of food and related agricultural prices. The cost of our food-shopping basket is rising.

With these concerns in mind, the Countryside and Community Research Institute in Gloucestershire is organizing a 'Big Rural Discussion on the Future Cost of Food' on behalf of SWAN – the South West Acre Network - and in association with Universities in the South West.

Two events are planned; the first of which will debate 'Production and Distribution' (24 April 2008), and the second 'Communities and Consumption' (1 May 2008). Each event will feature key note speeches from leading academics in the region.

Dr. Owain Jones, one of the organizers of the debate, says "Rural policies and food chain dynamics have been shaped in recent years by depressed farm incomes and the related cheap cost of food. Now the picture is changing. The aim of the 'Big Rural Discussion' is to kick start a debate on the implications of the turn in farm incomes and food costs, particularly in the context of the South-West where agriculture plays such a key part in the rural economy. The prospect of increased food and agricultural prices offers both opportunities and major challenges to rural communities, not least in terms of social and environmental implications. This forum will provide the opportunity for a healthy debate and to plan a policy vision for the next few decades."


The immense range of cheap food products offered by the supermarkets has contributed to the farming crisis. Many farmers have had to 'add value' to their products to justify higher prices, such as selling direct to the consumer at farmers' markets and farm shops where the farmer can make information available about where the food came from and how it was produced. Locally produced food is often perceived as 'more healthy' by the typical consumer. However, many farmers have been forced to diversify into other forms of income-generation, such as tourism and leisure related activities.

You can take part in the debate by logging on to the Big Rural Discussion forum at http://www.big-rural-debate.org/ where you can read the latest posts and add your own thoughts and comments. Further information on the events can also be found on the CCRI website www.ccri.ac.uk

ENDS_______________________________________________________________________

Contacts:

Dr. Owain Jones, Research Fellow, ojones@glos.ac.uk, or tel. 01242 715315

Owain's research interests are in rural communities and rural childhood; landscape place and nature, and sustainable food chains. See http://www.ccri.ac.uk/AboutUs/Staff/jones.htm for information on Owain's publications.

Dr. Matt Reed, Research Fellow, mreed@glos.ac.uk, or tel. 01242 714138

Matt's research interests focus on the organic farming and food, food production, nutrigenetics, family farming and the local food economy. See http://www.ccri.ac.uk/AboutUs/Staff/reed.htm for details of Matt's publications


Office Manager, Chris Rayfield, crayfield@glos.ac.uk or telephone 01242 714121

Communications Officer, Julie Ryan, jryan@glos.ac.uk

Other Information:

The Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) is a new body created by the University of Gloucestershire, the University of the West of England and Hartpury College. It is one of the leading specialist rural research centres in the country with programmes of research in rural community development, rural poverty, agri-environment policies, agri-tourism, local sustainability, local economic development, EU and UK rural development, and the planning system in the countryside. See www.ccri.ac.uk for more information.

The mission of SWAN, the network of rural community councils in the south west, is to be an effective focus for knowledge and expertise on rural issues. They aim to influence rural policy at local, regional and national level; to contribute to the voluntary and community sector at regional level, and to provide support services to rural community councils. They work closely with a number of voluntary sector organisations and government departments and agencies. These include South West Forum, Black South West Network and other representative bodies; and, in the public sector, Defra, the Home Office (through the Government Office of the South West), and the South West Regional Development Agency.

Issued by:

COUNTRYSIDE AND COMMUNITY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Dunholme Villa,

The Park,

Cheltenham,

Gloucestershire,

GL50 2RH.

www.ccri.ac.uk