With the global population predicted to hit close to 10 billion by 2050, and forecasts that agricultural production in some regions will need to nearly double to keep pace, food security is increasingly making headlines. In the UK, it has become a big talking point recently too, for a rather particular reason: Brexit.

Brexit is seen by some as an opportunity to reverse a recent trend towards the UK importing food. The country produces only about 60 per cent of the food it eats, down from almost three-quarters in the late 1980s. A move back to self-sufficiency, the argument goes, would boost the farming industry, political sovereignty and even the nation’s health. Sounds great—but how feasible is this vision?

According to a report on UK food production from the University of Leeds, UK, 85 per cent of the country’s total land area is associated with meat and dairy production. That supplies 80 per cent of what is consumed, so even covering the whole country in livestock farms wouldn’t allow us to cover all our meat and dairy needs.

There are many caveats to those figures, but they are still grave. To become much more self-sufficient, the UK would need to drastically reduce its consumption of animal foods, and probably also farm more intensively—meaning fewer green fields, and more factory-style production.

But switching to a mainly plant-based diet wouldn’t help. There is a good reason why the UK is dominated by animal husbandry: most of its terrain doesn’t have the right soil or climate to grow crops on a commercial basis. Just 25 per cent of the country’s land is suitable for crop-growing, most of which is already occupied by arable fields. Even if we converted all the suitable land to fields of fruit and veg—which would involve taking out all the nature reserves and removing thousands of people from their homes—we would achieve only a 30 per cent boost in crop production.

Just 23 per cent of the fruit and vegetables consumed in the UK are currently home-grown, so even with the most extreme measures we could meet only 30 per cent of our fresh produce needs. That is before we look for the space to grow the grains, sugars, seeds and oils that provide us with the vast bulk of our current calorie intake.

1.Some people argue that food self-sufficiency in the UK would _________.

A be hindered by its population growth

B contribute to the nation’s well-being

C become a priority of the government

D pose a challenge to its farming industry

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据food self-sufficiency in the UK定位到第二段，根据第三句可知一些人认为回归自给自足将有利于农业、政治主权和国民健康，故选B。

2.The report by the University of Leeds shows that in the UK _________.

A farmland has been inefficiently utilized

B factory-style production needs reforming

C most land is used for meat and dairy production

D more green fields will be converted for farming

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据The report by the University of Leeds定位到第三段，根据第一句可知英国利兹大学发表的报告显示，英国土地总面积的85%与肉类和奶制品的生产有关，故选C。

3.Crop-growing in the UK is restricted due to _________.

A its farming technology

B its dietary tradition

C its natural conditions

D its commercial interests

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第五段第二句可知英国畜牧业占主导是因为该国大部分地区都没有适宜商业种植的土壤和气候，故选C。

4.It can be learned from the last paragraph that British people _________.

A rely largely on imports for fresh produce

B enjoy a steady rise in fruit consumption

C are seeking effective ways to cut calorie intake

D are trying to grow new varieties of grains

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句可知目前在英国人食用的果蔬中，仅有23%产自本国，即其余大部分靠进口，故选A。

5.The author’s attitude to food self-sufficiency in the UK is _________.

A defensive

B doubtful

C tolerant

D optimistic

解析：选B。B 观点态度题。根据第三段末句可知，即使把畜牧业覆盖全国也无法满足英国人对肉类和奶制品的需求；根据第五段末句可知，即使转变为植物性饮食，把全部可用土地用于种植果蔬，也只能实现30%的粮食增产，也无法满足需求。可见作者对英国粮食自给自足是质疑的，故选B。