The UK needs to STOP growing! (Out the EU I say)

Its going to take a lot more than sweets and chcolate to pay for the NHS.

We could go more nuclear but a meltdown is not so good for the UK. Tidal could be a good option considering we are an island nation so this makes sense.

Well, yes it probably will. Over the past centuries, we've increase agricultural yields beyond all recognition. We will continue to do so, particularly given advancements in genetic modification. Indeed, we will also be able to grow crops in otherwise inhospitable places - and of course, as societies elsewhere develop, they also reap for straightforward benefits like proper irrigation.

Because of this advancement - "intensive farming" if you like - we are actually freeing up huge quantities of land already. It simply uses enormously less land - and so we are voluntarily withdrawing from it - it doesn't require climate change for that to happen. Meanwhile, each year we see new record yields globally.

Even putting aside technological advancement, agricultural efficiency is nothing like it could be because many of the countries involved are developing. Look at Zimbabwe: it's farms have been pretty much scuppered because of political decisions, not anything to do with what they actually can produce.

We are not self-sufficient - and even if we were, the idea of self-sufficiency would be disastrous. It would increase food prices exponentially, it would reduce choice and quality of produce. Just like in every other part of the economy, self-sufficiency has huge costs and precious few advantages in a globalised world.

Using land to produce food is an old technology, we can grow food in cities in buildings with soil that have advantages such as fewer miles to transport the food to consumers and freeing up land for other uses as well as less pollution.

http://www.cityfarmer.info/2015/07/17/philips-unveils-pioneering-new-city-farm-project-in-the-netherlands/

Oh right - so we mine uranium now do we? As for tidal - assuming we are trying to save the environment rather than destroy it, I don't think we have enough estuaries to keep the lights on.

There is an interesting book by a chap called Josh Harness. It is called Nobody Knows How to Make a Pencil and is about just that. The world has become more specialised to the point that there is no one single person on the planet who possesses all the skills and knowledge required to create something as simple as a pencil. The idea of self sufficiency is fine, but it just is not feasible any more.

To take your idea a little further - where are we going to buy all our farm machinery, or greenhouses from? We don't manufacture is all. And even if we did, many of the components required come from afar.

We haven't been self sufficient for the last 100 years or so. Why now?

Great argument, more of the **** situation we know please, instead of a chance to aim higher and be free.

I would prefer to see tidal, this site show's hydro is giving France 1/5 of it's electricity.

http://www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/france/

Great site. But you are getting confused between tidal, which is the tidal barrage at Rance contributing about 0.15% of total power, but not at slack water, and hydro power generated by letting water fall from a holding lake at high altitude through a pipe and generator. France has this small mountain range called the Alps to build these. We are less fortunate although we do have a couple in Wales that are used to power TV advert breaks when the country switches on the kettle.

Well i'm sure the UK has some more suitable sites for both these or could we man make suitable landscapes? The UK could also focus on wind as i'm sure you understand the UK is a country with a lot of wind and a bit of solar could help power during some times or if we really need to we can have some coal plants on standby. Nuclear could be very hazardous if we have any risk of meltdown in a country like the UK.

I wish my world was as idealistic as yours. If we go down the wind route, what happens on weeks like last week where there was no wind on the North Wales coastline and then windmills there weren't turning? And if you are going to build solar power, where are you going to put your crops? Remember - we don't have enough land at present to sustain us. As for tidal power - you can count the number of estuaries in the UK. Even if you optimistically predict that each can generate 2% of power requirements, there aren't enough. As for your idea of shaping the landscape - you can't even get planning permission for a modest house - how are you going to get consent for a new estuary? And where is the fuel coming from to create it?

The fuel will be shipped in from oil producing countries to power machinery or we could research electrical or hybrid construction equipment to complete these projects.

I wish my world was as idealistic as yours. If we go down the wind route, what happens on weeks like last week where there was no wind on the North Wales coastline and then windmills there weren't turning? And if you are going to build solar power, where are you going to put your crops? Remember - we don't have enough land at present to sustain us. As for tidal power - you can count the number of estuaries in the UK. Even if you optimistically predict that each can generate 2% of power requirements, there aren't enough. As for your idea of shaping the landscape - you can't even get planning permission for a modest house - how are you going to get consent for a new estuary? And where is the fuel coming from to create it?

So it is ok to import oil, but not food? Weird!