To GM or Not to GM – is that the question?

Whilst enjoying the sunshine yesterday and scouring the papers I came upon this interesting story in The Sunday Times Magazine (27/06/2010) – titled “I’ll have the purple tomato, Dr. Frankenstein” – read the full article http://bit.ly/byuJN8 .

The question posed quite simply stated “Without genetically modified foods, can the world feed itself?”  The Environmental Journalist of the Year, Richard Girling, argued “that GM crops are good for people and good for the planet”.

I’m not a scientist but am passionate about our ability as not only a nation but also a global community to feed ourselves now and in the coming years.  I really believe that we have to find ways of not just producing more, but producing more in a more environmentally sustainable way – in my simple view yields and production have to go up, significantly, in the coming years.

A startling fact that I’ve heard and read about this year is that by mid-century we (you, me, and everyone) will be part of a projected 9 billion global population!  We as the Earth will need 50% more food, and already 1 billion people go hungry every day.  As Richard Girling argues “…and it will have to grow in an increasingly difficult, drought-prone environment”.

How are we to achieve this unless there is a coming together of the different systems of food production in a sustainable way?  I find it interesting that the three main production bodies for food, namely Conventional, Organic and GM – sit at opposite ends of the production Triangle.

Has the time not come for all three to champion and support the principles of feeding the world in a way that ensures that no-one person goes hungry?  But most importantly, it is achieved in a way that is environmentally beneficial to the land and the environment?  Could these three incredibly important bodies, together, provide the solution?

What are your thoughts to this interesting debate, how do you view the need to feed the World in a different way?  I would really welcome your thoughts, comments and views please feel free to leave them here.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 28th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

Filed under: Food Service, Fresh Food, Fresh Produce, General, Growers & Producers, Online Marketing, Retailers, Social Media, Suppliers
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Welcome Sweetheart – RW Walpole introduces new Strawberry!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 1:49 pm

Filed under: Food Service, Fresh Food, Fresh Produce, Growers & Producers, Online Marketing, Retailers, Suppliers
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Social Networking – for the Youngsters and Women only?

Having recently posted about Fresh Produce & Social Media – the Next Generation, I came across an interesting view of Social Networking from a gender perspective.  The Mowgli Foundation was asking the question if Women were better than Men at Social networking http://bit.ly/aUBalq.

Interestingly, the Fresh Produce industry is “traditionally” male dominated in the critical people sectors, growers and suppliers, and the lack of Social media/networking interaction has taken me by surprise.  Even to the point of really outdated websites, limited contact us information, most of which is actually out of date.  Where there is limited Social activity I have found that this is generally being driven by the female persuasion.

Initially I thought that the lack of social media interaction, within Fresh Produce, was driven by a lack of understanding about the platform of blogging, tweeting, facebooking and the like.  So more of a generational gap than anything else; in my original blog I ask the question of how, we as an industry are to engage the next generation if we don’t communicate in the same way as them.  This is a particularly worrying trend for our industry if we don’t link with our consumers, entrepreneurs and employees of the future.

Having read the Mowgli Foundation blog about gender I’m really beginning to question my original thoughts and assumptions.  Is Social media and networking a younger generation’s platform? Are women more inclined to network this way versus their male counter-parts?  To my mind whatever the answer the Social platform utilising the web is here to stay and is gathering momentum and I for one intend to be at the forefront, certainly within the Fresh Produce industry, which I just happen to love.

I would really welcome your views, comments, thoughts and feedback.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 18th, 2010 at 10:03 pm

Filed under: Fresh Food, Fresh Produce, Growers & Producers, Online Marketing, Retailers, Social Media
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Fresh Produce & Social Media – the Next Generation

How important is it to engage with the younger generation in the Fresh Produce industry and in particular how do we attract them as consumers, entrepreneurs and employees within the industry?

As a passionate advocate of the Fresh Produce industry I am concerned at what appears to be the lack of engagement with the next generation. Having worked in this fantastic industry for more years than I care to remember and also being new to Social Media I am quite taken aback at what appears to be the lack of understanding of how to converse and publicise our industry with the younger generation.

My question really centres upon how we attract this younger generation to see fresh produce as a fantastic career choice?  How do we go about creating a real buzz about fresh produce but also around how we, as an industry, promote our sector to them as future consumers.

Whilst many within Fresh Produce dismiss Social Media as a fad or uninteresting to the day job, the younger generation are really embracing it.  How many of your children are on Facebook for example, and importantly how often do they use it?

I believe there is a great opportunity to really embrace Social Media as an instrument of change and critically dialogue with this new generation.  Can we as an industry utilise this fantastic new medium to change perceptions and encourage more participation from younger members of our society?

At Growing Direct we passionately believe in Fresh Produce; but having now seen the power of Social Media and its easy accessibility also believe there is a real opportunity to promote the industry in ways not thought possible before.

We would really be interested to hear your points of view and stories about this topic and welcome your feedback and comments.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 12:33 pm

Filed under: Fresh Food, Fresh Produce, Growers & Producers, Retailers, Social Media, Suppliers
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