Are we on the verge of a food crisis? Do we need rescuing by GM?
Joel Salatin says that we don’t, and he can prove it.
Last week the agriculture minister David Heath warned us that Britain may be on the verge of a new food crisis. A growing population, along with more crop failures as a result of increasingly unstable weather conditions, have already led to a significant increase in food prices. The biotech industry tells us that the solution to future food security lies in new genetically modified crops, but could there be another, perhaps safer solution? Joel Salatin thinks so.
Named the world’s most innovative farmer by TIME magazine, Salatin is a renowned and highly respected pioneer and local food activist. Since being featured in Michael Pollan’s ‘The Omnivores Dilemma’ and the film ‘Food Inc’, he’s become the leading voice of the burgeoning local food and regenerative agriculture movement in his native U.S. “We’re in the redemption business”, says Joel, “healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture.”
Salatin has spent the last 30 years developing innovative techniques that have led his Polyface Farm in Virginia to become a flagship example of what a truly local and successful farm can look like. Polyface is now a diversified, grass-based, beyond organic, direct marketing farm, supplying food to over 500 families living within a three-hour drive of the farm.
A charismatic communicator, Salatin now travels the world leading workshops and seminars and will be visiting Britain next week as part of a European tour. He will deliver two workshops, sharing how he has been able to achieve both profitability and financial stability, while taking control not just of production but also processing, distribution and marketing. “Joel Salatin is a man who truly walks his talk” says Darren Doherty, founder or RegenAg International. “He’s simply a must-see wherever he goes”.
Salatin has also been invited to talk to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Agroecology at Westminster on 1st May. He’s very enthusiastic about being given the opportunity to talk to potential policy-makers. "This is great news" says Aranya, co-ordinator of RegenAG UK, "…and could be an important step forward for regenerative agriculture in this country." The meeting will be from 2.00pm to 3.30pm in the Attlee Suite at Portcullis House.
Salatin’s two-day workshop on 29th/30th April sold out soon after it was announced. Joel then agreed to give an extra one-day workshop on Sunday 28th. Both will take place at Cowdray Hall, Easebourne, near Midhurst in West Sussex. For full details visit www.regenag.co.uk
You are invited to attend both the workshop at Cowdray on Sunday 28th (please call 01297 20908 or email info@regenerativeagriculture.co.uk to arrange) and the meeting in Portcullis House on 1st May (please contact Harry Greenfield ongreenfieldha@parliament.uk).
