Sir John Beddington, chief scientific adviser to the UK government, this week presented the findings of an independent study on the pressures confronting the global food and agriculture system over the next 40 years.
The Foresight report, entitled 'The Future of Food and Farming: Challenges and Choices for Global Sustainability', describes the future pressures on both demand and production as 'unprecedented'.
Sir Beddington commented: 'This is a unique time in history – decisions made now and over the next few decades will disproportionately influence the future of agriculture and food security. There are many potential approaches. All areas of science and technology which could make valuable contributions to the challenge of producing more food on less land in a sustainable way should be carefully considered. There is no one single solution.'
The report concludes that in order to balance supply and demand in a sustainable manner, actions must be taken in tandem across several policy areas.
Other priorities outlined include making better use of knowledge, capitalising on new science and technology, reducing waste, improving governance and influencing demand.
The presentation took place at an event in Brussels hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the UK's Crop Protection Association (CPA).
'The Foresight report is a wake up call for Europe,' said Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the CPA. 'With crop yields falling and food prices rocketing across Europe, policy makers cannot afford to be complacent about the extent of the global food security threat and its impact on the future of EU agriculture and food production.'
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