Call for more Manx produce in supermarkets

A petition calling for supermarkets and government departments to use more local produce is to be discussed in Tynwald.

Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh will present the petition - set up by the Manx National Farmers Union (MNFU) and signed by 1,800 people.

The petition, which will be considered at the December sitting, calls on all supermarkets on the island to "procure, supply and promote" Manx produce.

It also calls on government-operated services to "prioritise" such food - warning that the island was "close to 100% dependent" on imported produce.

The island's current food dependence is "not sustainable for Manx farming or the Manx economy - and it's a huge food security risk", according to the Tynwald motion.

Before starting the petition earlier this year, MNFU General Secretary Sarah Comish said she was "shocked" by the lack of food made on the island being sold in its shops.

Just 6% of Manx-made produce is sold on the island, according to the Tynwald motion.

"6% is nowhere near enough," she said, "we export lots of meat, that really needs to be back on the island.

"The largest share of the Isle of Man is through UK supermarkets, that has had a huge impact on our farmers."

Ms Comish stated the island's "route to market" for its produce was increasingly difficult through rising shipping costs for imported food.

"We're hoping to claim collective responsibility for our food and a recognition of the value of that local product", she said.

"[The Isle of Man] has the highest welfare and environmental standards in the world, that comes at a cost, but it's got to be worth it."

The island's government now had a "crucial" part to play in ensuring that cost was not brought on to the consumer, according to Ms Comish.

She believed the industry was low on confidence, with farmers unsure of whether to invest in a product when there may not be demand for it later down the line.

Wannenburgh echoed concerns around the Isle of Man's food dependence.

"We've only got two vegetable farmers left on the island [and] 10 years ago we had 13 milling wheat farmers, today we've only got two," he said.

"Food and energy security were the two most important issues facing an island of our size."

The Douglas North minister and chair of the Manx Utilities Authority said he would also like to see the percentage of food made and sold there reach near 15% to 20%.

"Imported products can be made available at cheaper prices but the problem with that is that it can be turned off.

"We have very good produce on the Isle of Man [but] it's the old saying - we either use it or lose it."

Wannenburgh will ask Tynwald members next month to back the petition and ensure "including by way of legislation, if necessary" that UK supermarkets operating on the island "procure, supply and promote" Manx produce, and that the government "prioritises using locally produced food for all its services".

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