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01.Speaking, How can we prevent food shortages? 6 Minute English | by 700 Eth | May, 2023 | Medium

How can we prevent food shortages? 6 Minute English | by 700 Eth | May, 2023 | Medium

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Rob. Do you know where the food on your plate comes from? Many people just assume that shops will always be ready with a cheap and plentiful supply. But recently a lack of certain foods in the UK, a situation known as a food shortage, has left supermarket shelves empty of everyday items like eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Some see these food supply problems, which were caused by unusually cold weather combined with rising energy prices, as a warning not to take a reliable supply for food for granted. Like many countries, the UK imports much of its food from abroad, and for years has enjoyed a stable and affordable supply.

But with changes in the world economy, inflation, and the effects of climate change, how much longer will this continue? In this programme, we'll be finding out, and as usual, learning some useful, new vocabulary as well. A reliable food supply is essential. In fact, there's an English expression about the dangers of not having enough food for everyone: ‘we are only nine meals away…' but, ‘away from' what, Neil? Is it: a) a revolution, b) anarchy or c) famine? I guess the expression goes: we're only nine meals away from revolution.

OK. I'll reveal the answer later on. Besides difficulties in importing food, some countries are also producing less food than they used to. In the UK, many farmers are selling their apple orchards to housing developers rather than struggle with increasing production costs.

Here's Adam Leyland, editor of The Grocer magazine, speaking with BBC Radio 4's, The Food Programme. The forecast is for the lowest levels of production since records began. And when you think about how much investment there has been in glasshouses and polytunnels since 1985 in a way that's transformed UK supply, quite frankly, the fact that this is what's being forecast is extraordinary.

Adam says that British food production is at its lowest since records began — a phrase used to mark the point in the past when people started writing down an account of something rather than just remembering it, so that the information could be used in the future. Production is decreasing despite improvements in how food is grown, especially the use of glasshouses and polytunnels.

A glasshouse is a large greenhouse — a building with glass sides used for the commercial growing of fruit and vegetables. A polytunnel is a similar structure but made using plastic instead of glass. However, it's not only Brits who are worrying about the production and supply of their food — changes are happening all around the world.

When global demand for food outgrows supply, countries start competing with each other. According to Oxford University's, Professor Charles Godfrey, an expert on the global food system, we're now living in a less connected, less collaborative world, a world which he says is ‘de-globalising'. Deglobalisation involves sourcing food nearer to home — domestically or from neighbouring countries.

While this sounds positive, Professor Godfrey is worried that deglobalisation makes it harder to supply food to parts of the world which cannot produce enough for themselves. Here, he shares his concerns with BBC Radio 4's, The Food Programme. We think that in the next 30 or 40 years we will probably see global demand for food rising 30 to 50 percent, and I think a question is: should the UK be stepping up to help meet that demand, given that we have a very sophisticated home agriculture… or you could argue completely the opposite, that we live in a country where we are very depauperate

for biodiversity — perhaps we should produce less food here and use our land more for biodiversity. My view is that if we plan our land use in a canny way, one can produce more food, and one can increase the biodiversity in the country. Professor Godfrey thinks only a globalised food system can successfully feed the world population.

Countries that can produce food should be stepping up to meet demand. If you step up to a situation, you start taking responsibility for doing something to improve things. We need a balance between growing food and maintaining the Earth's biodiversity — the number and variety of plants and animals living on earth.

Depending on their circumstances, countries could use their land either to grow food or to promote biodiversity, but Professor Godfrey thinks both are possible if we are canny — an adjective meaning clever and quick-thinking. Feeding the world is an urgent global challenge with serious consequence, as mentioned in that English expression, so… maybe it's time you revealed the answer to your question, Rob.

Yes. I asked you to finish the saying, ‘We're only nine meals away from…'. And I guessed it was ‘nine meals away from revolution'? Which was the wrong answer, I'm afraid. Actually, the saying goes ‘we're only nine meals away from anarchy'.

I really hope not, but just in case let's recap the vocabulary we've learned starting with food shortage — a situation where not enough food is produced. The phrase, since records began shows the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering them. A glasshouse is a large greenhouse — that's a building with glass sides used for growing food.

If you step up to a situation, you start taking responsibility to act to improve things. Earth's biodiversity is the variety of plants and animals living in the natural environment. And finally, the adjective canny means clever and quick-thinking. Once again, our six minutes are up.

Goodbye for now! Bye bye!

How can we prevent food shortages? 6 Minute English | by 700 Eth | May, 2023 | Medium ¿Cómo prevenir la escasez de alimentos? 6 Minute English | por 700 Eth | mayo, 2023 | Medium 食糧不足を防ぐには?6分間英語|by 700 Eth|2023年5月|中編 Как мы можем предотвратить нехватку продовольствия? 6 Minute English | by 700 Eth | May, 2023 | Medium

Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil. And I'm Rob. Do you know where the food on your plate comes from? Many people just assume that shops will always be ready with a cheap and plentiful supply. Mucha gente da por sentado que las tiendas siempre tendrán una oferta abundante y barata. But recently a lack of certain foods in the UK, a situation known as a food shortage, has left supermarket shelves empty of everyday items like eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Some see these food supply problems, which were caused by unusually cold weather combined with rising energy prices, as a warning not to take a reliable supply for food for granted. Algunos consideran que estos problemas de suministro de alimentos, causados por un tiempo inusualmente frío combinado con el aumento de los precios de la energía, son una advertencia para no dar por sentado un suministro fiable de alimentos. Like many countries, the UK imports much of its food from abroad, and for years has enjoyed a stable and affordable supply.

But with changes in the world economy, inflation, and the effects of climate change, how much longer will this continue? In this programme, we'll be finding out, and as usual, learning some useful, new vocabulary as well. A reliable food supply is essential. In fact, there's an English expression about the dangers of not having enough food for everyone: ‘we are only nine meals away…' but, ‘away from' what, Neil? 実際、英語には「We are only nine meals away...」という、全員分の食料がない場合の危険性を表す表現がありますが、「away from」って何ですか、ニールさん。 Is it: a) a revolution, b) anarchy or c) famine? それは、a)革命、b)無政府状態、c)飢饉のどれでしょうか? I guess the expression goes: we're only nine meals away from revolution. 革命まであと9食というところでしょうか。

OK. I'll reveal the answer later on. Besides difficulties in importing food, some countries are also producing less food than they used to. In the UK, many farmers are selling their apple orchards to housing developers rather than struggle with increasing production costs.

Here's Adam Leyland, editor of The Grocer magazine, speaking with BBC Radio 4's, The Food Programme. The forecast is for the lowest levels of production since records began. And when you think about how much investment there has been in glasshouses and polytunnels since 1985 in a way that's transformed UK supply, quite frankly, the fact that this is what's being forecast is extraordinary. 1985年以降、ガラス温室やポリタンクにどれだけの投資が行われ、英国の供給が一変したかを考えると、率直に言って、このような予想になるのは異常だと思います。

Adam says that British food production is at its lowest since records began — a phrase used to mark the point in the past when people started writing down an account of something rather than just remembering it, so that the information could be used in the future. アダムによると、イギリスの食糧生産量は、記録が始まって以来、最低の水準にあるという。この言葉は、人々が何かを記憶するだけでなく、将来その情報を利用できるように、その記録を書き留めるようになった時点を示す言葉である。 Production is decreasing despite improvements in how food is grown, especially the use of glasshouses and polytunnels. La producción está disminuyendo a pesar de las mejoras en la forma de cultivar los alimentos, especialmente el uso de invernaderos y túneles de polietileno.

A glasshouse is a large greenhouse — a building with glass sides used for the commercial growing of fruit and vegetables. A polytunnel is a similar structure but made using plastic instead of glass. However, it's not only Brits who are worrying about the production and supply of their food — changes are happening all around the world.

When global demand for food outgrows supply, countries start competing with each other. According to Oxford University's, Professor Charles Godfrey, an expert on the global food system, we're now living in a less connected, less collaborative world, a world which he says is ‘de-globalising'. Deglobalisation involves sourcing food nearer to home — domestically or from neighbouring countries. La desglobalización implica abastecerse de alimentos más cerca de casa, en el propio país o en los países vecinos.

While this sounds positive, Professor Godfrey is worried that deglobalisation makes it harder to supply food to parts of the world which cannot produce enough for themselves. Here, he shares his concerns with BBC Radio 4's, The Food Programme. We think that in the next 30 or 40 years we will probably see global demand for food rising 30 to 50 percent, and I think a question is: should the UK be stepping up to help meet that demand, given that we have a very sophisticated home agriculture… or you could argue completely the opposite, that we live in a country where we are very depauperate Creemos que en los próximos 30 ó 40 años la demanda mundial de alimentos aumentará probablemente entre un 30% y un 50%, y creo que la pregunta es: ¿debería el Reino Unido ayudar a satisfacer esa demanda, dado que tenemos una agricultura doméstica muy sofisticada... o se podría argumentar totalmente lo contrario, que vivimos en un país en el que estamos muy empobrecidos? Mēs domājam, ka nākamajos 30 vai 40 gados, iespējams, globālais pieprasījums pēc pārtikas pieaugs par 30-50 %, un es domāju, ka jautājums ir šāds: vai Apvienotajai Karalistei būtu jāpalīdz apmierināt šo pieprasījumu, ņemot vērā, ka mums ir ļoti attīstīta vietējā lauksaimniecība... vai arī var apgalvot pilnīgi pretējo, ka mēs dzīvojam valstī, kurā esam ļoti nabadzīgi.

for biodiversity — perhaps we should produce less food here and use our land more for biodiversity. para la biodiversidad: quizá deberíamos producir menos alimentos aquí y utilizar más nuestra tierra para la biodiversidad. My view is that if we plan our land use in a canny way, one can produce more food, and one can increase the biodiversity in the country. En mi opinión, si planificamos el uso del suelo de forma inteligente, podremos producir más alimentos y aumentar la biodiversidad del país. Professor Godfrey thinks only a globalised food system can successfully feed the world population.

Countries that can produce food should be stepping up to meet demand. Los países que pueden producir alimentos deberían dar un paso adelante para satisfacer la demanda. If you step up to a situation, you start taking responsibility for doing something to improve things. We need a balance between growing food and maintaining the Earth's biodiversity — the number and variety of plants and animals living on earth.

Depending on their circumstances, countries could use their land either to grow food or to promote biodiversity, but Professor Godfrey thinks both are possible if we are canny — an adjective meaning clever and quick-thinking. Feeding the world is an urgent global challenge with serious consequence, as mentioned in that English expression, so… maybe it's time you revealed the answer to your question, Rob.

Yes. I asked you to finish the saying, ‘We're only nine meals away from…'. And I guessed it was ‘nine meals away from revolution'? Which was the wrong answer, I'm afraid. Actually, the saying goes ‘we're only nine meals away from anarchy'.

I really hope not, but just in case let's recap the vocabulary we've learned starting with food shortage — a situation where not enough food is produced. The phrase, since records began shows the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering them. A glasshouse is a large greenhouse — that's a building with glass sides used for growing food.

If you step up to a situation, you start taking responsibility to act to improve things. Earth's biodiversity is the variety of plants and animals living in the natural environment. And finally, the adjective canny means clever and quick-thinking. Once again, our six minutes are up. Una vez más, nuestros seis minutos han terminado.

Goodbye for now! Bye bye!