The latest issue in the British public arena around food production and consumption has been raised by DEFRA and their food security position. For many of us who have worked, or attempted too, in agricultural food research it sounds a little like, far too little, far too late! However we must be positive and make the best of a rather challenging situation. Finding the methods of adequately feeding 9 billion people within 20 years are not trivial. It will require major changes in production, distribution and retail selling. My personal concern is that the issues will be treated as ’sound bites’ with many politicians and experts attempting to promote their own point via short statements to convince the masses, most of whom are completely isolated from the production of their food which they take for granted. These are very big and complicated issues, and arriving at optimal solutions will be very difficult and complex. However they must be attempted.
As usual, I have trouble improving on the prose of Felicity Lawrence so rather than plagiarize, read her short review of DEFRA’s new policy statement.
Our appetite for Food Security
Also some comments from a UK Agricultural Newspaper
Reactions of Agricultural Interest Groups
And finally, want to get it right from the … horses … mouth, here is the relevant DEFRA page.
I’m off to pick some wild blackberries to mix with a couple apples of my own tree!
Jim
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