Grow-your-own food group attracts 10,000 members

A GRASSROOTS organisation which teaches people how to grow their own food and encourages them to “barter” has attracted an estimated 10,000 members nationwide.

Grow-it-yourself (GIY) Ireland was set up in response to a realisation that ordinary people were incapable of producing their own food.

With almost 100 groups nationwide, it brings people together online and in communities to learn from each other and exchange tips, ideas and produce.

A spokesperson for GIY said the organisation — membership of which is free — is carrying out a census of members which it expects to reach 10,000 “GIYers” nationwide.

GIY maintains the power in our food chain is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small group of stakeholders, as in Ireland 82% of the grocery market is owned by five supermarket chains.

“We have handed over the keys to our survival to a small number of powerful producers, distributors and retailers,” GIY says.

“As a result, our food is less healthy than it used to be — British and US government statistics indicate that the levels of trace minerals in fruit and vegetables fell by up to 76% between 1940 and 1991.”

Kevin Balanda of the Public Health Institute said big multiple retailers are strengthening their grip on the marketplace at the expense of smaller food producers. He said this may be pushing people further into “food poverty”.

It is estimated that about 15% of population experience some type of food deprivation. Of those on low incomes about 35% experience food poverty.

Mr Balanda said with the increasing market share of big multiples, it was important to “keep an eye on the bigger picture” and stressed that policy-makers should be reminded of issues which need to be addressed — but which are easy to forget in tough economic times.

“There is concern that smaller retailers and food producers, and disadvantaged people who are struggling to feed their families in difficult times, will be affected by bigger retailers selling cheaper food,” Mr Balanda said.

According to a 2008 report, people are living in food poverty if they are unable to consume adequate safe healthy food in ways that are aligned with their cultural and social norms.

The report highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of food poverty and its impact on health and well-being, and found that people in lower socio-economic groups are at an increased risk of food poverty and obesity.

It said in particular, children living in poorer households experience food poverty and adopt unhealthy behaviours and are more likely to suffer conditions such as obesity, cancer and heart disease in adult life.ac