Smith warns on food shortage

SCOTTISH MEP Alyn Smith this week drew a comparison between the recent breakdown in the financial world and the possibility of food shortages in Europe.

"Imagine if the food supply chain broke down – we would have riots in our streets. If we do not protect and encourage our own domestic agricultural sector then food riots are not as far away as we like to think," he warned.

He acknowledged that maintaining and developing the natural environment were valid concerns for the Common Agricultural Policy, but added:

"For me, the overriding objective of the CAP is food production. I have some fears that there are those who would like to see a future CAP which would relegate food production to a secondary concern.""