Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, spoke to more than 30 members of the Transition Town Market Harborough group at the meeting, held in the Roman Way Community Centre earlier this month.

Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global oil extraction is reached, after which the rate of production will enter terminal decline.

The Soil Association, a charity which promotes environmentally-friendly farming techniques, is calling on the Government to make contingency plans for the problems this may bring for agriculture.

Mr Holden told the group that peak oil will see agricultural methods become more expensive.

However, because soils are degraded they will need time to be rebuilt so that organic farming methods can thrive, meaning crop rotation would have to be introduced.

Transition Town group organiser Darren Woodiwiss said: “He was so engaging that the questions just kept coming and we struggled to wrap up the evening as the audience was so keen to bombard him with questions.”

The group formed in August last year to highlight climate change and the rate at which crude oil is being used up.

The transition refers to moving from a dependency on oil to a low-energy society.

Following the meeting they formed a ‘food security’ group which saw seven new faces volunteer.

If you would like to work with the food group or propose a group you would like to establish, then contact info@transitionharborough.org.uk or phone Mr Woodiwiss on 07974 220102.