Episode 40 - The Cheap Food Policy. A look at the development of European post-war agricultural policy. Rationing, the 'Dig for Victory' campaign and wartime food subsidies were observed to improve the health of the British population. Nutritionists, agricultural scientists and economists lobbied the government to ensure access to cheap, nutritious food was cemented as part of the post-war socialist programme of national improvement. Daniel Hall, C S Orwin, John Boyd Orr, Sir Robert McCarrison, William Beveridge and George Stapledon pushed for price controls in agriculture for the benefit of society as a whole. The episode concludes with some remarks about the rejection of these ideas by present-day political parties, with the exception of 'far-right' parties, which has led farmers to be branded extremists when they defend these policies. Discussion of the phasing out of the Basic Payments in favour of the Sustainable Farming Incentive throughout.

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0:00 - The SFI
4:40 - Rationing
5:47 - An Egalitarian Policy
7:57 - The Scientific Basis
12:38 - A Socialist Vision
17:00 - Feather-bedded farmers
17:55 - Stapledon's Defence
19:22 - Far-right?
23:24 - A Theme Emerges.

Media Used:
British Council Films - 'Make Fruitful the Land', 'Teeth of Steel', 'Health of the Nation', 'Wales', 'Power on the Land', 'New Mine'

Teeth of Steel is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

Make Fruitful the Land is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

Health of the Nation is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

Wales is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

Power on the Land is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

New Mine is part of the British Council film archive of short documentaries made by the British Council during the 1940s. The films were designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. View, download and play with the archive at https://film.britishcouncil.org/resou....

EMOHA Interview with Kenneth Barnett, 70/203