Local Trumps Organic: “Just Ask” UK Secretary Miliband

Today, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs David Miliband announced their support for “Just Ask,” a new local food campaign launched by the Country Land and Business Association to inspire Brits to question the origins of their food. According to Miliband, “…there is something satisfying about knowing where the food on your plate comes from and the sense of connection that comes from eating local food.” Sounds good, right?

But Miliband didn’t lay the best groundwork for the launch. In fact, he started a bit of a food fight when he called organics “no better” than conventionally-grown food in a recent interview with the Sunday Times. His comments sparked an all-out “row” in the food and farming world, prompting Soil Association director Patrick Holden to call Miliband “profoundly ignorant of the benefits that are motivating people to buy organic food.”

Entering into the fray, National Farmer’s Union president Peter Kendall had this to say in defense of conventional food: “If there’s a small but growing percentage of consumers who want a different product, then that’s a great opportunity for members. But I have a real problem with conventional methods being demeaned at every opportunity.”

To be fair, Miliband also deemed last year’s 30 percent market growth in organics “exciting” for some, and his remarks seemed to have been designed to defend the vast majority of England’s food products, 96 percent of which are conventionally grown. “…I would not want to say that 96 percent of our farm produce is inferior because it’s not organic.” So, Miliband’s loyalties lie with the majority of his country’s farmers, which is understandable, and explains why his political posturing supports local but not necessarily organic food.

The argument seemed to center exclusively on the health benefits and the monetary costs of organics, but as we know, sustainable food is about much more than just health. Back in October, Miliband expressed concerns about global warming, but didn’t mention that industrial agriculture may be more harmful to the environment than driving an SUV, a topic we blogged about on December 5, 2006.

Of course, we at Sustainable Table urge you to shop local as well as organic. Learn more about buying local, organics, and other sustainable food issues at our issues pages. And visit out Eat Well Guide to find sustainable food in your neighborhood.