News Farmer becomes famine author
A farmer from Swinefleet Common has called upon his literary skills to help him in a bid to warn the public that the West could face famine as a secure future for food provision looks uncertain.
John Gossop (62) is normally known for selling potatoes, carrots and onions by the bag, but recently turned his hand to writing by penning the book Famine in the West, after fears that there could soon be food shortages.
John said: "My book describes how farming became dependent on oil and gas, gives more detail on the many threats to food security, and lists the actions I feel need to be taken immediately.
"Lots of people have noticed food prices are rising, but this is nothing compared to what lies ahead."
According to John, if next year's harvests are poor because of severe drought or other extreme weather, prices are going to rise even further, perhaps leading to food shortages, even in the West.
"This is because world carry-over stocks are dangerously low and world population is rocketing at a time when oil and gas reserves are falling," added John.
"Basically, we are going to have less energy to make food, but more people to feed."
John added that most of the land that is suitable, and much that is unsuitable, is already used for crops of some kind. We are losing 25 million acres of agricultural land each year through the building of new roads and industrial infrastructure, and through soil erosion.
Many more millions of acres of land that was previously used to grow food is now used to produce renewable fuels, such as ethanol or bio-diesel.
To order your copy of Famine in the West, priced at £6.49 plus £1.49 postage and packaging, contact 01430 410521. The first two Goole Times readers to quote 'Goole Times' when ordering a copy, can collect a free four-stone bag of mixed potatoes, carrots and onions from John's farm, and will not have to pay for postage on the book.
Published on 28th December 2007 in News.
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