The Development of Modern Agriculture British Farming Since 1931

About this book

The book evaluates the success of the modern agricultural revolution, which has transformed British farming since the abandonment of free trade in 1931. Originating from wartime necessity, the process has continued unabated to the present day. The impetus for increased food production was provided first through British government intervention and later by European policies of the CAP. Scientific and technological innovations that made farming the economic success that it is have also brought about the scourge of overproduction, environmental degradation and overcapacity among the farming fraternity. Agriculture has reached a watershed, when policy-makers for the twenty-first century might like to reflect on lessons that can be learned from the past.

Contents

List of Tables List of Figures Preface by Tom Blundell Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction British Agriculture in the 1930s The Second Food Production Campaign The Role of the State The Scientific and Technological Revolution The Common Agricultural Policy Agricultural Development and Britain's Natural Heritage Epilogue: Modern Agriculture Index

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Biography

JOHN MARTIN is Principal Lecturer in Economic and Social History at De Montfort University, Leicester. He has acted as consultant and contributed to a number of television and radio programmes relating to the development of British agriculture in the twentieth century. He has contributed extensively to the New Dictionary of National Biography in his role as Research Associate.