Who Will Feed the Cities? Resource Security in the Era of Peak Oil and Climate Change

The Problem: Energy-Intensive Food Production The Problem: Energy-Intensive Food Production The Solution: A Bioregional Economy The Solution: A Bioregional Economy What is Different about Cities? What is Different about Cities? The Contribution of Permaculture The Contribution of Permaculture The Experience of Cuba The Experience of Cuba

DEFRA (2003), The Economic Position of the Agri-Food Sector: Overseas Trade Analysis

Source: DEFRA (2003), The Economic Position of the Agri-Food Sector

Percentage of household consumption expenditure spent on food Source: DEFRA, The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development

Inexorable rise in oil prices Source: Lucas, Jones, and Hines (2006), Fuelling a Food Crisis

Government attitude to food security No concern because 42% of imports are non- indigenous products No concern because 42% of imports are non- indigenous products Food security ‘is neither necessary nor is it desirable’ Food security ‘is neither necessary nor is it desirable’ Seasonality is important ‘with out-of-season imports from the southern hemisphere enabling food retailers to stock a full range of produce all year round’. Seasonality is important ‘with out-of-season imports from the southern hemisphere enabling food retailers to stock a full range of produce all year round’. ‘Comparative advantage dictates the pattern of trade in a liberal world trading environment, with countries concentrating on the production of goods that utilize its resources in the most efficient way’. ‘Comparative advantage dictates the pattern of trade in a liberal world trading environment, with countries concentrating on the production of goods that utilize its resources in the most efficient way’.

The Ricardian paradigm

Percentage of oil used in different aspects of food production and distribution Source: Lucas, Jones, and Hines (2006), Fuelling a Food Crisis

Energy-intensive fertilisers 40% of world food protein production relies on nitrogen fertilizers 40% of world food protein production relies on nitrogen fertilizers Consumption increased from 70 million tonnes in 1970 to 138 million tonnes in 2000 Consumption increased from 70 million tonnes in 1970 to 138 million tonnes in 2000 Fertiliser industry accounts for 2% of world energy consumption Fertiliser industry accounts for 2% of world energy consumption In US fertilizer industry uses more than 10% of all energy In US fertilizer industry uses more than 10% of all energy Ten calories of energy needed to make 1 calorie of food Ten calories of energy needed to make 1 calorie of food

Source: DEFRA, The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development

The Carbon Dioxide in all that we Consume Source: Carbon Trust 2006

Life-Place: Bioregional Thought and Practice, R.L. Thayer, 2003 A bioregion is literally and etymologically a ‘life-place’—a unique region definable by natural (rather than political) boundaries with a geographic, climatic, hydrological and ecological character capable of supporting unique human and non-human living communities. Bioregions can be variously defined by the geography of watersheds, similar plant and animal ecosystems, and related identifiable landforms and by the unique human cultures that grow from natural limits and potentials of the region. A bioregion is literally and etymologically a ‘life-place’—a unique region definable by natural (rather than political) boundaries with a geographic, climatic, hydrological and ecological character capable of supporting unique human and non-human living communities. Bioregions can be variously defined by the geography of watersheds, similar plant and animal ecosystems, and related identifiable landforms and by the unique human cultures that grow from natural limits and potentials of the region.

Bioregionalism: Economy within Eco-system Bioregionalism has at its heart two of the central principles of green economics: balance and cycles. Bioregionalism has at its heart two of the central principles of green economics: balance and cycles. Bioregionalism means living a rooted life, being aware of where your resources come from and where your wastes go Bioregionalism means living a rooted life, being aware of where your resources come from and where your wastes go Can think of it as borrowing our resources from the local natural environment Can think of it as borrowing our resources from the local natural environment The local is a principle that trumps other principles such as price or choice The local is a principle that trumps other principles such as price or choice

Transition Town Stroud Community response resulting from: Community response resulting from: Political failure Political failure Market failure Market failure Power down Power down Reduction of consumption Reduction of consumption Relocalisation of consumption Relocalisation of consumption Sharing ideas between communities Sharing ideas between communities Learning from the South and solidarity economy Learning from the South and solidarity economy

Stroud Community Agriculture Close to zero food miles Close to zero food miles Genuine ownership Genuine ownership Production not just consumption Production not just consumption Seasonality and concept of ‘share’ Seasonality and concept of ‘share’ Annual cycle and community in festivals Annual cycle and community in festivals

Growing our own clothes Stroud’s long history of textile production Stroud’s long history of textile production Cotswold wool and now alpaca Cotswold wool and now alpaca Planting and processing of hemp rather than cotton: Stroud Hemporium Planting and processing of hemp rather than cotton: Stroud Hemporium Counter poverty wages of ‘fashion victims’ in developing countries Counter poverty wages of ‘fashion victims’ in developing countries

Owning your own home Borrowing for our needs from the local environment Borrowing for our needs from the local environment Shared space: self-build and community build Shared space: self-build and community build Stewardship rather than ownership of land: Community Land Trusts Stewardship rather than ownership of land: Community Land Trusts

What is different about cities? A consequence of the division of labour A consequence of the division of labour Relying on increasingly large hinterland for resources Relying on increasingly large hinterland for resources Shortage of land Shortage of land Poor quality environments Poor quality environments Dense population Dense population Land used for infrastructure and services Land used for infrastructure and services

London’s ecological footprint Population: 7 million Population: 7 million Surface area: 158,000 ha. Surface area: 158,000 ha. Area required for food production: 8.4m. ha. Area required for food production: 8.4m. ha. Forest area required: 768,000 ha. Forest area required: 768,000 ha. Land area for carbon sequestration: 10.5m. ha. Land area for carbon sequestration: 10.5m. ha. Total footprint: 19.7m. Ha, 125 times surface area Total footprint: 19.7m. Ha, 125 times surface area Britain’s surface area: 24.4m. ha. Britain’s surface area: 24.4m. ha.

Girardet’s Plan Recycle and conserve water Recycle and conserve water Use waste as a source of energy Use waste as a source of energy Crack down hard on wasted energy: learning to switch the lights off Crack down hard on wasted energy: learning to switch the lights off My additions: Concept of ‘shared space’ Concept of ‘shared space’ Save resources through sharing meals Save resources through sharing meals Big Green Thumb Big Green Thumb

Permaculture principles Working with nature saves energy Working with nature saves energy The problem is the solution The problem is the solution Make the least change for the greatest possible effect Make the least change for the greatest possible effect The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited (or only limited by the imagination and information of the designer) The yield of a system is theoretically unlimited (or only limited by the imagination and information of the designer) Everything gardens (or modifies its environment Everything gardens (or modifies its environment Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, Bill Mollison, 2003

Learning from Cuba per cent of Cuba’s vegetables are grown domestically per cent of Cuba’s vegetables are grown domestically Huertos and organiponicos Huertos and organiponicos Havana now produces 50% of its food within the city Havana now produces 50% of its food within the city

Urban gardeners  Oakland debating 40% of vegetables grown within 50- mile radius by 2015 In poor countries urban households grow food for some 700 million people By the mid 1990s there were over 28,000 huertos in Havana city province, run by ,000 individuals

Allotment feeding frenzy London now producing 16,000 tonnes of vegetables: there are 4,300 people waiting for allotments London now producing 16,000 tonnes of vegetables: there are 4,300 people waiting for allotments Birmingham has the largest provision of allotments of any Local Authority in the UK: 115 sites, nearly 7,000 plots, and over 80 Allotment Associations. Birmingham has the largest provision of allotments of any Local Authority in the UK: 115 sites, nearly 7,000 plots, and over 80 Allotment Associations.

Richard Heinberg’s Plan Localization of the food process Localization of the food process Minimizing chemical inputs to agriculture Minimizing chemical inputs to agriculture Re-introduction of draft animals in agricultural production Re-introduction of draft animals in agricultural production Incentives for people to return to an agricultural life: ownership and planning Incentives for people to return to an agricultural life: ownership and planning Reskilling with farming knowledge and agri-culture Reskilling with farming knowledge and agri-culture End corporate agriculture and replace with co- operatives End corporate agriculture and replace with co- operatives Reorientation of subsidy regime Reorientation of subsidy regime Population limits Population limits

A Positive Vision The convivial economy not the lean economy The convivial economy not the lean economy An opportunity to reclaim control of production and value An opportunity to reclaim control of production and value The importance of community through production and consumption The importance of community through production and consumption

Such a vision offers greater community and personal satisfaction: a world where conviviality replaces consumption, where local identity replaces global trade, and where community spirit replaces brand loyalty. Lord Tim Beaumont House of Lords Debate on the Queen’s Speech 27 November 2006