Food Programme - 30th Anniversary

Margaret Thatcher became the first woman prime minister and Blondie was in the charts, but 1979 was also the year that The Food Programme first came on air, with Derek Cooper presenting. This programme, the first of two, marks the 30th anniversary with a look back at the people whose ideas have shaped our thinking on food and a look forward to some of the issues that could dominate the next 30 years. Randolph Hodgson of Neal's Yard Dairy, which has also just marked its 30th anniversary, recalls how he decided to devote his life to developing and encouraging British artisan farmhouse cheesemakers. Sheila speaks to John Gummer MP, former minister of agriculture and secretary of state for the environment in the last Conservative government. He discusses how western society has opted for 'fast food' over quality food, and volume rather than value. He abhors the levels of food waste in society and explains how he thinks we have lost respect for food. In the studio, Sheila discusses some of the important global issues for the future of food security in the company of Dr Susan George, author of How the Other Half Dies and The Lugano Report. Also joining Sheila is Alex Evans, author of Feeeding the Nine Billion, which was produced for Chatham House.