Voices: Britain is sleepwalking into a food supply crisis
Voices: Britain is sleepwalking into a food supply crisis
Share:
Our food system has never been more fragile, writes Mulberry co-founder turned organic farmer Roger Saul. So when is the government going to act to secure its future?. Let’s rewind 22 years to a boardroom coup and my departure from Mulberry – the company and brand which I had co-founded and devoted my life to.
I found myself surrounded by 300 acres of rich farmland, so what else is a man to do but decide to grow an obscure grain, known for its gentle, life-giving properties – spelt. Fast forward another 20 years, to yet another financial crisis (I have weathered six in my life so far) and I now must sell the family’s manor house, home of 47 years; close down Sharpham Park in Somerset – my dedicated spelt cereal business with a £2m turnover at peak – and strip out the first-ever organic spelt mill in the UK.
During 53 years as an entrepreneur, I have experienced all the vagaries of the international marketplace: dealing in currency to hedge the company’s bets; working with every culture and nationality whilst developing products to satisfy fashionistas and foodies alike. I swapped handbags for flour bags, quickly discovering that profit margins were wafer thin in comparison.
So, my current anxiety at the state of our country’s food chain is possibly worth considering. I find myself cheering for Jeremy Clarkson, who has done more for the general public’s understanding of farming and food production than any government initiative could have ever achieved. We both share the growing fear that Britain risks the sheer stupidity of failing to feed itself.
