How can we prevent food shortages? ⏲️ 6 Minute English

Do you know where the food you buy in the supermarket comes from? Will it always be available? With changes in the world economy, inflation, and the effects of climate change, is there a risk of recurring food shortages in many parts of the world? Rob and Neil talk about it and teach you vocabulary along the way.
❓❓❓This week's question
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?
a) a revolution
b) anarchy
c) famine
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.
Vocabulary
✔️food shortage - situation where not enough food is produced
✔️since records began - used to show the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering the in their heads, in order to be able to use that information in the future.
✔️glasshouse - large greenhouse; building with glass sides used for the commercial growing of fruit and vegetables
✔️step up (to) - start taking responsibility to act to improve a situation
✔️biodiversity - the variety of the number and types of plants and animals that live in the Earth’s natural environment
✔️canny - clever and quick-thinking
[Cover: Getty Images]
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[@MrMor94ok]

My childhood passed in the USSR in the late 80s in the north of Kazakhstan. At that time there was a shortage of food. Some of the products were sold limited by coupon. On coupons they sold: sugar, eggs, sausage, cheese, cigarettes, vodka. To buy this product, you had to have a coupon and money, as well as stand in a long queue at the store. At that time, an ordinary butcher shop sold old steel, beef bones without meat, 3 liter cans of birch sap (birch is a tree) and canned seaweed. Coupons were issued for each family member every month, I don’t remember exactly, but it seems that only 2 kg of sugar could be bought for each family member. Sugar was in short supply because it was difficult to buy vodka and the population made moonshine. Although the production of moonshine at that time was a criminal offense.

[@user-zb3dh9se2r]

Yes, my dear compatriot, I remember this blessed time well))). At that time I served in the Soviet Army and didn't smoke, so my comrades were glad because I shared my cigarettes coupon for them)))

[@MrMor94ok]

@@user-zb3dh9se2r Now I live in Ukraine in Kharkov. In the first days of the war, bread, cereals, vegetables, fruits, meat, sausages, canned food disappeared from stores. There were only expensive canned seafood, expensive sea fish. On the 2nd or 3rd day I managed to buy bread. After 1 week, vegetables and cereals appeared, after 2-3 weeks, meat appeared. Even during the war in Ukraine, there were more products in the store than in the USSR at the end of the 80s.

[@user-zb3dh9se2r]

@@MrMor94ok Your are right, in 1980th there was food shortage in USSR, but nobody starved to death and Ukrainians and Russians didn't kill each other. Now we have a big choice of food and we have the bloodshed too. Every period has its own advantages

[@MrMor94ok]

@@user-zb3dh9se2r During that period, the Soviet army was killing Afghans in Afghanistan.

[@user-md2zy5oq9o]

Теперь стало ясно, зачем у нас бабки скупают весь сахар чуть что 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@trangdieu.18c]

VOCABULARY FROM VIDEO “How can we prevent food shortages? 6 Minute English” 1. Affordable: not expensive 2. Anarchy: a situation in which there is no organization and control, especially in society, because there is no effective government 3. Famine: a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens 4. Food shortage: situation where not enough food is produced 5. Since records began: used to show the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering the in their heads, in order to be able to use that information in the future. 6. Glasshouse: large greenhouse; building with glass sides used for the commercial growing of fruit and vegetables 7. Step up (to): start taking responsibility to act to improve a situation 8. Biodiversity: the variety of the number and types of plants and animals that live in the earth’s natural environment 9. Canny: clever and quick-thinking 10. Taking responsibility for 05.18.2023 VIETNAM ALL THE BEST FOR YOU ^^

[@bbclearningenglish]

Good understanding of the vocab!

[@huseinmuqtar4269]

Thanks

[@h.b7374]

Thank you

[@benjaminestrada8788]

Great. thanks a lot.

[@danya22__]

good job! See you in the next video

[@Meet1681]

Best channel ever for English learners ❤❤❤❤❤

[@franciscojose6496]

6 minutes of pure information bbc english the best 😊

[@user-fe7bo5pi4j]

I'm Japanese. Japan imports much of its foods from abroad as the UK. I'm sure this problem will make your children suffer in the near future... That's why we need to think about this problem more seriously.

[@fukol18378]

Never ever have food shortage if we stop wasting food

[@FARID_AHMAD_KARIMI]

Good job!

[@benjaminestrada8788]

Thanks a lot. BBC. Greetings from Mexico.

[@bbclearningenglish]

You're welcome! Greetings from all of us here at BBCLE!

[@abdulmalik-rz6uo]

Very very useful

[@bbclearningenglish]

Glad you think so!

[@NATURALENGLISH-2023]

GREAT VIDEO

[@Leslie_Wei]

If only there were quizzes or tests!

[@Amina-rr9jx]

There are quizzes in bbc learning english application.

[@Leslie_Wei]

@@Amina-rr9jx thank you. I see there are several vocabulary quizzes in it.

[@AhmedMohamed-ff9tm]

❤

[@catchloeandkittens]

👍👍👋

[@gdgdgdhrhrhrh2954]

Thanks you b

[@soumaia_soumaia]

Like it❤

[@sihembouaoud8226]

Thanks I was wondering if you could write in the comment the meaning of the vocabulary so I can take a screenshot and review them later

[@alaminsarker4558]

Hey, i am from Bangladesh

[@romeubraga5942]

Nice

[@thuaphi]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@nowdarius]

In the glasshouse, the canny farmer cultivated a wide variety of crops to combat the looming threat of a food shortage caused by the worst famine since record began, aiming to preserve bio-diversity while ensuring affordable and sustainable produce for the community.

[@trunguc7539]

1:57

[@Brian-fo6ew]

The food shortage in 2023 has been the most considerable since records began, but I stepped up and used my canny thinking. I used glasshouses to increase biodiversity and create a new kind of food that is easy to grow and delicious to eat!

[@bbclearningenglish]

Great use of the vocabulary!

[@manuelgordillo520]

Eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers......how the hell people do eat in the UK. scrambled eggs with cucumber and tomatoes as a wonderful sandwich with slice bread.?

[@sataralanbari9792]

Third comment ❤

[@vishnurg6177]

Second comment☺️

[@Movies32104]

First comment ❤

[@yusifhasanzada1385]

Well done

[@Movies32104]

@@yusifhasanzada1385 ❤️

[@saeedbasabain4188]

Any one native English here???

[@mysterious824]

Glasshouse, Earth's biodiversity and canny. I learnt them!

[@ramazankamilov942]

🇺🇿🇺🇿🇺🇿

[@rce7672]

I would like to know the meaning of 'depauperate' in 'we are very depauperate for biodiversity'? Can someone tell me🙏

[@lka8735]

1. 0:25 food shortage 2. 1:57 since records began 3. 3:52 step up to 4. 4:13 canny 5. 4:20 Biodiversity

[@user-iu4nn4nf6o]

Depauperate canny

[@user-st4en3rx2x]

If technology advances at an exponential rate, wouldn't it be reasonable the say that by 2030 science will have a solution to climate change, why are Governments panicking? Or could it be that we have unreleased technology but its about global UN/WHO population control?

[@GeckoHiker]

This channel is teaching English poorly. They need an editor to review their script and the description section of their videos.

[@Smbelse]

Vocabulary food shortage situation where not enough food is produced since records began used to show the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering the in their heads, in order to be able to use that information in the future. glasshouse large greenhouse; building with glass sides used for the commercial growing of fruit and vegetables step up (to) start taking responsibility to act to improve a situation biodiversity the variety of the number and types of plants and animals that live in the Earth’s natural environment canny clever and quick-thinking TRANSCRIPT Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript. Neil Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil. Rob And I’m Rob. Neil 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. Rob 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. Neil 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. Rob 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? Neil I guess the expression goes: we’re only nine meals away from revolution. Rob 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. Adam Leyland 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. Neil 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. Rob 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. Neil 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’. Rob 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. Prof Sir Charles Godfrey 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. Neil 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. Rob 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. Neil 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. Rob Yes. I asked you to finish the saying, ‘We’re only nine meals away from…’. Neil And I guessed it was ‘nine meals away from revolution’? Rob 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. Neil The phrase, since records began shows the point in the past when people started keeping written accounts of events, rather than just remembering them. Rob A glasshouse is alarge greenhouse - that’s a building with glass sides used for growing food. Neil If you step up to a situation, you start taking responsibility to act to improve things. Rob Earth’s biodiversity is the variety of plants and animals living in the natural environment. Neil And finally, the adjective canny means clever and quick-thinking. Once again, our six minutes are up. Goodbye for now! Rob Bye bye!

[@jianyaosun]

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