Resilience, safety and security of UK food imports highlighted in new Global Food Security report and public exhibition.
A new report has highlighted issues surrounding global food systems and the importation of food into the UK. Partners in the Global Food Security (GFS) Research Partnership came together with thought-leaders, scientists and experts in the field to contribute to the report via a Public Policy Seminar on 'Global Food Systems and UK Food Imports'.
The seminar provided a welcome opportunity for scientists and non-scientists to discuss the broad range of factors which affect the stability and resilience of food supply chains in the UK. Participants considered challenges which range from those with a local or UK national focus to more wide-ranging European and global issues.
The resulting report, produced by the Economic and Social Research Council for the Global Food Security Programme, outlines key issues, such as: the need for a better functioning supply chain; reducing food waste; securing safer foods; and tackling food fraud.
Professor Tim Benton, Global Food Security Champion, said: "Global food security, and ensuring food is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable, is perhaps the most important societal issue we face. Disruptions to food supply has serious knock-on effects; economically, socially and to the health and well-being of the population."
"This report highlights some of the key challenges we face in food security, such as declining self-sufficiency, food fraud and a need to reduce the vast amount of food that is wasted."
"The research activities of our partners in the Global Food Security programme aim to help food producers and processors, retailers, consumers and civil society respond to and manage these challenges."
The report highlights potential research priorities that could help to provide answers, including: a social science perspective on the complexity of food security; understanding the impact of the changed world; changing global diets; issues underpinning food waste; food security and ecosystem sustainability; resilience of the global food system to shocks; global markets; and new technologies.
A public exhibition by the Global Food Security Programme is touring the UK this year in a bid discuss these issues with the general public, and to present some of the ways scientific research is helping to address the problem. The 'From Field to Fork' exhibition can be seen at:
Read the report at: http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/resources/reports.html
Contact:
Tracey Jewitt, BBSRC Media Officer
01793 413355
tracey.jewitt@bbsrc.ac.uk
Notes to editor
Issues highlighted in the report:
The report outlined key issues raised by those in attendance, including:
Global Food Security programme
The UK's main public funders of food-related research are working together through the Global Food Security programme to meet the challenge of providing the world's growing population with a sustainable, secure supply of nutritious food from less land and using fewer inputs. Read more about the Global Food Security Programme here: http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk Read about the partners here: http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/programme/sponsors-partners.html
Exhibition
The Global Food Security Exhibition, 'From Field to Fork', highlights the challenges of providing the world's growing population with a sustainable, secure supply of good quality food. http://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/resources/field-to-fork.html