https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/22/tim-lang-interview-professor-of-food-policy-city-university-supply-chain-crisis

This article written by Jay Rayner, focuses on the writings and texts of Tim Lang, a professor of food policy at London’s City University. Lang’s primary assertion is that Britain has an extremely delicate “just-in-time” food supply chain, leaving it vulnerable to collapse. The author and Lang decide to leave talk of Corona for later, as Lang believes there is a fundamental problem with the food system, virus aside.

(Evening Standard, Tim Lang)

Lang asserts that because just eight companies control 90 percent of Britain’s food supply, primary producers are not making nearly enough money. Lang proposes an expansive solution to address the increasing fragility of Britain’s food supply chain: new sustainability laws, national nutritional guidelines, audits of food production, numerous new bodies and food system commissions, and more. I, as well as the author of this article, would suggest that these policy suggestions are very politically liberal. This is not necessarily a problem in and of itself however, the article does not include any evidence as to why these policies would be best. I believe this article could be improved upon if supporting evidence was included.

(International Life Sciences Institute)

Britain only produces about 50 percent of the food that is consumed in the Nation. This leaves the nation even more so vulnerable to outside influences disrupting their food supply chain. I agree with Lang that policies must be changed and introduced to ensure that the country can become increasingly independent. Furthermore, since a great deal of Britain’s cultivatable land is not being used to grow important crops, the nation does indeed have the capacity to expand and develop their domestic food chain. In the wake of serious food shortages due to Corona Virus, I believe that many countries, including Britain, are going to have to make alterations to food supply chains looking to bolster domestic food production.

-Sophie Stein