What's on your Plate?
Latest Greenpeace report calling for a reduction in chemicals used in UK framing, highlighting the chemical soup on everyday produce.
Greenpeace calling for a 50% reduction in chemical use on UK farms by 2030 following their report 'Our Poisoned Land'. That's a significant increase in the current government's commitment to a 10% reduction over the same time frame.
Naturally, the farming community is deeply concerned about the impact on yields, citing a 50% drop should many of these chemicals be taken 'off the table'.
Key issues raised by the report cover:
- our collapsing biodiversity,
- use of chemicals in the UK that are banned elsewhere,
- the increase in toxicity in these chemicals compared to the 1950's,
- the impact on water pollution,
- the volatility of food prices caused by fossil fuel-based chemicals,
- the impact on health.
I am disappointed to see the Greenpeace report did not make more of a deal about the long term impacts of these chemicals on gut health. There is statistically robust evidence for their negative impact, with a huge cost on our health service.
I also struggle to understand why only 3% of our land is farmed organically, yet recent reports suggest 4 out of 5 households buy organic produce in the supermarket. Headlines that suggest your average (non-organic) strawberry or carrot is currently treated with a cocktail of over 40 chemicals should be causing outrage.
Eat more plants > buy organic > enjoy the taste > waste less > save money!
