FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 June 2007
Farming, oil depletion and climate change
Looking to the Future for Cornish Agriculture
Transition Cornwall is holding a special evening event on July 4th, to raise awarenss of oil depletion, climate change and the impact on farming. This event is targeted at Cornwall’s agriculture, horticulture and food production sector and will be held in the Public Hall in Liskeard.
The speakers for the evening are: Mel Hall, South West Regional Director of the National Farmer’s Union; Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association, and David Strahan, UK expert on oil depletion issues. There will be an introduction from each speaker before opening the meeting to a question-and-answer session from the floor.
This event is organised by Cllr Jennifer Gray, under the banner of Transition Cornwall, in conjunction with the Rural Business School at Duchy College. It marks the launch of a new partnership formed to produce a series of talks, workshops and lectures aimed specifically at Cornwall’s farming community. The aim is to build positive and pro-active solutions that address climate change and peak oil (fossil fuel depletion).
Cllr Gray says: “Peak Oil and Climate Change will affect us all. Oil supplies are under pressure and the end of cheap fossil fuels is already in sight. We must make every effort to understand the full implications of this and build solutions that both reduce our oil dependency and mitigate climate change.”
Food and farming are particularly vulnerable areas. Vast amounts of oil and gas are used at all stages of food production and supply: from planting, irrigation, feeding and harvesting, through to processing, distribution and packaging. It takes 10 calories of fossil fuel to produce 1 calorie of food, with the average British family requiring 10 barrels of oil a year in order to feed itself. The food system is one of the biggest consumers of fossil fuels and one of the greatest producers of greenhouse gases.
As we face a future with declining oil and gas supplies, ever-increasing prices, we can expect carbon-rationing measures to be implemented both nationally and locally. What can we do to be ready for this? What might a low-carbon agriculture look like? Does it offer the potential for a renaissance of farming and increased local food supply across Cornwall?
“Real breakdown is much closer than we think” says Holden. “Whether through conflict, a natural disaster, or a sudden decline in oil – all three of which are either happening or about to happen - there is an urgent need to develop new models of localised food and farming systems. Farmers, gardeners and growers are going to play an increasingly crucial role in adapting to climate change and delivering food security.”
The presentation will take place in the Public Hall, Liskeard on Wednesday 4th July at 7.00 pm. Tickets are £3 at the door and advance booking is recommended. Contact or 01736.334676 for reservations.
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Contact: Jennifer Grey
Tel: 07734.692435 Email: