Clarion call to sustain local food production

The loss of local production of staple foods would hit the Manx economy hard.

The CEOs of Manx dairy, bread and meat industries used a breakfast debate hosted by Manx Radio today (Friday) to push home the serious challenges they're facing to stay profitable.

This morning's live debate heard how consumers choosing to buy Manx help sustain farmers, producers, convenience shops up and down the Island and a range of other local businesses.

Two bakeries in the Channel Islands are to close later this month with the loss of more than 80 jobs - cheaper local bread imports are being blamed.

Ramsey Bakery's chief executive Jim Duncan says the same could happen here - and last month wrote an impassioned letter urging government to do more to protect local producers.

Today Mr Duncan repeated that call: