Abstract
The United Kingdom's territory is full of diversified natural resources. From their profitability to their confrontation to the global market, the exploitation of these natural resources has been fit on a seasonally adjusted basis. From the agriculture to the mining and production of raw materials, these wealth have created a reputation to the produce of the United Kingdom on its territory and beyond the border. But prosperity has not always been there.
So nowadays, in times of crisis, what is the impact of the United Kingdom's natural resources exploitation on the territory and abroad? Firstly, let's consider the case of the agriculture at the same time renowned and devalued on the market for its good quality. Then, an analysis of the evolution of the raw materials exploitation in the United Kingdom would be useful to deduce the role of this state in this sector. Eventually, a last asset characterizes the United Kingdom's management of its natural wealth: its capacity of fitting its know-how to the current needs. Nowadays, around 18.7 million hectares of the United Kingdom are classified as agricultural lands, say over 70% of the total land area.
The agricultural sector that represents 1% of the United Kingdom's GDP is very productive. Crops, grassland and woodland mix with other land creating an extraordinary diversity of produce. The United Kingdom's agriculture is well-known for its capacity to produce crops and meat of the best quality. Indeed, the main asset of the United Kingdom's agriculture is to be in possession of a real know-how that makes the farmers able to produce well renowned products so as to attract not only the inhabitants of the lands but also from overseas.
Extract
[...] Revenue is declining because of that whereas so as to maintain the level of production and quality farmers need to invest more and more. The problem is that because everybody is forced to produce at a very high level, every country is over producing. It becomes a vicious circle for the farmers because production is constantly ahead of the demand. The more they produce the more prices fall down and the less there are profits for the farmers. The supermarket chains and the agro-food business are the great winners in this because they force the prices down and refuse to buy the farmer's productions at high prices. [...]
[...] The United Kingdom's agriculture has a fantastic asset for quality but it also creates problems since the markets are no longer interested for quality but rather for cheaper prices. Nowadays, lower quality at lower prices is more profitable on the global market. The consumer will always attempt to buy cheaper products, whatever the quality. So the quality in the United Kingdom's farms is in decline, it is becoming low and low. What's more, in time of crisis as it is, the budget devoted to food is declining and people prefer to eat junk food which is bad for the health than to buy a good meat coming from the land where they live and where the quality is guaranteed but high prices too. [...]
[...] While coal consumption in the United Kingdom continues to slowly grow, the domestic coal production from underground mines continues its long-term decline. Since 1977, the domestic coal mining industry has been in freefall. The United Kingdom consumed 68.2 million tonnes of coal in 2006, with approximately 84% used in coal-fired power stations. Nearly all of the 18.6 million tonnes of coal produced in 2006 was for domestic consumption with just over 500,000 tonnes exported. Approximately 50.3 million tonnes of coal was imported, predominantly from Russia South Africa Australia, Colombia, and Indonesia. [...]
[...] So the United Kingdom has taken emergency measures by importing gas, saving energy, developing renewable energies and relaunching the nuclear energy. Around 2025-2050 it is provided that the production of oil and gas may be depleted and will only be eventually a little part of the United Kingdom's history. Even if the United Kingdom has to face problems concerning the exploitation of its Natural resources, one of its main strength is to be adaptable to the situation. For instance, at a time when the green policy is fashionable, the United Kingdom has to recognize its faults towards the environment. [...]
[...] The United Kingdom's agriculture is well-known for its capacity to produce crops and meat of the best quality. Indeed, the main asset of the United Kingdom's agriculture is to be in possession of a real know-how that makes the farmers able to produce well renowned products so as to attract not only the inhabitants of the lands but also overseas. Besides, over half a million people are directly engaged in agriculture either in a full or part-time capacity. This is a significant part of overall rural employment and one that helps to maintain rural communities. [...]
