An interseting social challenge which we are observing in NZ and it is impacting agriculture is the disconnect people between and their food. We have all come accross people with a very poor level of awarness of where milk comes from, how vegetables grow etc. This is certainly the case here in the UK and moreso. All of society (and I include rural communities in this) have become disconnected from the source of their food so that there is a crude or nonexistant understanding of the food systems, like how and where does our milk come from or our cheese, vegetables, seeds, meats and so on.
This is a critical departure because ultimatley these people are the regulators, educators, legislators, consumers and neighbours. How can people make astute and well considered decisions when there is a poor knowledge about the complexities of the biological sciences which underpin the production of the food we eat. We have got used to cheap food being readliy available...
Did you know that many of the major political/ civil disobedience events accross the globe have their roots in food supply issues.
Food is such a core part of our communities; it gives us our nutrition, it gives us our cultural identity, it gives us context in the "circle of life" (I saw Lion King at the West End the other night). Food security and food safety are dear to poeple's hearts (stomachs) but most people are poorly informed about what the factors are that cause or undermine food safetly and security.
What role does the NZ agricultural industry have to play in this?
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