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The UK's Soil Association has just put forward a proposal to exclude any foods imported by air from using the "organic" label on their products. In theory, the proposal is based around the "food miles" theory, which states that the nearer to the point of sale that food is grown, the better for the environment it is. The theory assumes that emissions from airplanes and long-haul trucks will be greater than any of the pollutants that result from shorter journeys. There are many situations in which the theory does hold up, but by and large, it has been debunked, so even though it is given as the primary reason for this suggested policy change, the real motivation is simply money.
The demand for organics is very high. Stores can charge more for organics, as can growers. By effectively prohibiting imports in a country where the farmland is so limited (compared to some other countries, such as New Zealand, Chile and the US), the Soil Association is simply driving high prices even higher. Such a move may support local farms, but unless their production is able to match demand, consumers are really going to feel the effects of a change like this one.
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1-26-2007 @11:05AM calamari said... Went back and read the "debunked" link -- noted that the debunkers had a vested interest in proving that it's good to import from New Zealand. I'd want to see more than one study, including some from sources that aren't promoting their local industry, before I'd declare food-miles debunked.
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1-26-2007 @11:32AM robyn m. said... I agree with #1. The only "debunking" I've seen to date of the food-miles theory has come from either (1) people with a vested interest in debunking said theory, or (2) The Economist Magazine. Since the Economist has in the past referred to all organic and small-scale farmers as "Luddites", I'm not sure how seriously to take their work.
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1-26-2007 @7:29PM Blarg said... There should be two separate labels, one for whether it's organic and one for where it came from or how it was shipped. If you're worried about pesticide in your food, read the organic label. If you're worried about supporting local farmers, read the origin label. If you're worried about both, read both. It's simple.
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1-30-2007 @4:49PM Truckwatcher said... Firmly with you on the debunking of food miles. The arguments associated with organic farming and reducing food miles are nothing more than environmental naivety. The modern road transport sector, particularly with regard to retail is an extremely efficient means of getting goods from producer to consumer.
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