The protests become curious when you get into the percentages of which demographics own farmland in the UK. There have been surveys by farm-orientated magazines and websites which show that 30% of farmland in the UK is owned by the aristocracy, 18% by corporations, 17% by people who might be considered tycoons such as James Dyson, charities own 2%, the public sector owns 8.5%, the Royal Family owns 1.5%, and individual homeowners own 5%. 17.5% is owned by unknown parties and a final 0.5% is owned by the Church of England. So, in all those percentages where are the poor, working men who are apparently the most affected by these changes?
What percentage of total income do Brits pay for food? In the US folks demand that they pay less than 10% of their income on food. This is why so much of the product found in supermarkets is highly processed and filled with nonfood ingredients. This is explored in the book “Stuffed and Starved” by Raj Patel which examines the paradox of the global food system, where millions suffer from hunger while others face obesity and overconsumption. Patel explores how industrial agriculture, corporate control, and economic inequality have shaped food production and distribution, leading to widespread social and environmental consequences. The book delves into the exploitation of workers, the loss of biodiversity, and the marketing tactics that manipulate consumer behavior. Patel also highlights grassroots movements and alternative approaches to creating a more equitable and sustainable food system, offering a critical yet hopeful perspective on the future of how we eat.
"In FYE 2022, an average household spent 11.8% of their expenditure on household food and non-alcoholic drink in the UK, while for the lowest 20% of households by equivalised disposable income it was higher at 14.8%. In FYE 2021, these figures were higher for both groups, at 14.4% and 18.3% respectively." Food is, generally speaking, cheaper and healthier here though, so you have to take that into account. Groceries in the UK are generally cheaper than in the US, with some estimates putting the difference at 26.4% to 33.6%
Farming Subsidies stopped in 1984 here is NZ. It was catastrophic to the farmers at the time, their whole way of life was upended. Local communities died out, small schools disappeared etc. In the end capitalism kicked in, farms got bigger, innovative and more efficient. Being able to fail is a big driver of performance - which is why governments suck at doing so many things.
You forgot to finish your sentence: "their whole way of life was upended. Local communities died out, small schools disappeared etc. In the end capitalism kicked in, farms got bigger, innovative and more efficient" and more money went into less pockets making the NZ population poorer. You make an excellent case for keeping subsidies for non-corporate farmers. Well done!
Makes me glad to be a Canadian... We don't have an enhancement tax. I have nothing but contemp for (both) Government and supermarkets f-ing over the agricultural sector. In the end, it's the people who will hurt the most. A country marches on its stomach but these days, it's mire like a crawl.
The protests become curious when you get into the percentages of which demographics own farmland in the UK. There have been surveys by farm-orientated magazines and websites which show that 30% of farmland in the UK is owned by the aristocracy, 18% by corporations, 17% by people who might be considered tycoons such as James Dyson, charities own 2%, the public sector owns 8.5%, the Royal Family owns 1.5%, and individual homeowners own 5%. 17.5% is owned by unknown parties and a final 0.5% is owned by the Church of England. So, in all those percentages where are the poor, working men who are apparently the most affected by these changes?
What percentage of total income do Brits pay for food?
In the US folks demand that they pay less than 10% of their income on food. This is why so much of the product found in supermarkets is highly processed and filled with nonfood ingredients.
This is explored in the book “Stuffed and Starved” by Raj Patel which examines the paradox of the global food system, where millions suffer from hunger while others face obesity and overconsumption. Patel explores how industrial agriculture, corporate control, and economic inequality have shaped food production and distribution, leading to widespread social and environmental consequences. The book delves into the exploitation of workers, the loss of biodiversity, and the marketing tactics that manipulate consumer behavior. Patel also highlights grassroots movements and alternative approaches to creating a more equitable and sustainable food system, offering a critical yet hopeful perspective on the future of how we eat.
"In FYE 2022, an average household spent 11.8% of their expenditure on household food and non-alcoholic drink in the UK, while for the lowest 20% of households by equivalised disposable income it was higher at 14.8%. In FYE 2021, these figures were higher for both groups, at 14.4% and 18.3% respectively."
Food is, generally speaking, cheaper and healthier here though, so you have to take that into account.
Groceries in the UK are generally cheaper than in the US, with some estimates putting the difference at 26.4% to 33.6%
Farming Subsidies stopped in 1984 here is NZ. It was catastrophic to the farmers at the time, their whole way of life was upended. Local communities died out, small schools disappeared etc. In the end capitalism kicked in, farms got bigger, innovative and more efficient. Being able to fail is a big driver of performance - which is why governments suck at doing so many things.
You forgot to finish your sentence: "their whole way of life was upended. Local communities died out, small schools disappeared etc. In the end capitalism kicked in, farms got bigger, innovative and more efficient" and more money went into less pockets making the NZ population poorer.
You make an excellent case for keeping subsidies for non-corporate farmers. Well done!
@@beardyben7848 Interesting take - who's money do you think is used to pay the subsidies?
It wasn't that different from the gen pop, about 53% voted for Brexit.
Depends which way you cook the books and whether you include aquaculture or not.
Didn't they already up the cap from 1 million to 3 million? Also they still pay 50% less inheritance tax at that iirc.
It's 3 mil for couples, and they pay half the inheritance tax of 'normal' people, yeah.
sale and leaseback
Makes me glad to be a Canadian... We don't have an enhancement tax.
I have nothing but contemp for (both) Government and supermarkets f-ing over the agricultural sector.
In the end, it's the people who will hurt the most.
A country marches on its stomach but these days, it's mire like a crawl.