I'd say considering we produce for 40 million (at last count) This is objectively false. We produce for profit. Simple as that. We the population subsidize these corporations to use the land as they please. We then get left with what's left over.

Give us the means and we can produce for ourselves. Not hard to grow zucchini. Literally throw seeds in some ground and they sprout up.

Need land and resources and can stop relying on supermarkets.

Obviously plenty of caveats on that way of thinking. However current system isn't fit for purpose. Several individuals get obscenely wealthy while we create health inequalities. Governments are meant to be for the people. Currently that is not the case

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[–] liv@lemmy.nz 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I think community gardens are great. I think local/community collective produce-buying initiatives etc are great as well. There's nothing wrong with government support for those things.

I think trying to somehow introduce community gardens into the national food distribution chain is ... overly ambitious and putting the cart before the horse. This is not how you get rid of the duopoly.

[–] Mojojojo1993@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I agree. Government should be funding as many initiatives as possible. Food should be getting cheaper not more expensive.

Don't think we should ever rely on unpaid workers and volunteers. Really it's a matter of national security. Without a safeguarded food supply the country is at risk. Failing a fundamental human requirement.

[–] liv@lemmy.nz 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yes I agree. It's the basic needs of our population, it should be core govt business.

Without a safeguarded food supply the country is at risk

That part gets complex because international organizations like the WTO and the World Bank really, really hate it when countries are interested in food supply self-sufficiency. It's seen as being "anti-trade" and any country that tries it gets the hard word put on them pretty smartly.

NZ for example produces way more protein (esp dairy) and fruit than our population's collective nutritional needs, and not nearly enough vegetables.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh good grief

Te Pāti Māori would oppose the introduction of GE food into Aotearoa, while seeking to give Māori more protections over their cultural knowledge, practices and ceremonies associated with the production, distribution, and consumption of food.

Can someone please explain to me why GE food is so bad, exactly?

[–] Mojojojo1993@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's not. All food is basically GE. None of this stuff existed millions of years ago. We genetically engineer all our crops. Our animals are all Bree to have certain characteristics. Have you seen what chickens used to look like? Nothing like modern birds.

Everything is bred for certain things. Usually drought and disease resistant and also high yield.

Someone should really do a PSA on this shit

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemmy.nz 4 points 1 year ago

Someone should really do a PSA on this shit

You'd really hope a political party wouldn't need a PSA to tell them this, but this is TPM we're talking about.