Food Security14 November 2011

Chair: Professor Tim Jones Panel: Professor Elizabeth DowlerDr Rosemary CollierDr Ben RichardsonProfessor Laura Green

Global Priorities ProgrammeResponding through research to global challenges

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•Developing capacity to demonstrate the impacts of this research and engage key stakeholders

•Forum for supporting and enhancing multidisciplinary and cross-departmental research

•Generating research income through interdisciplinary research that addresses major global issues

Professor Liz DowlerSociology

the good news …. more people fed food relatively cheap food is safe, widely available, healthy (?)BUTharsh terms of trade for suppliersmuch production lost – or to animal feedlabour law missing or ignored still 1 billion hungry, malnourished, obeserising ill-health from foodenvironment, biodiversity, skills all

food security ‘a situation that exists when all people at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life ….’ UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

global demand for food x2 next 25-50 yrs

agriculture needs to keep pace food/ livelihoods/ economic growth food safety, public health and sustainability -

environmental and social

problems for production, processing, consuming.. loss of biodiversity, arable land, labour water conflicts, pollution land policy conflicts climate change rising prices changing tastes?

food security? food security?

production power

perceptionsprices

images: http://www.eradicatehunger.org/en/home

‘Business as usual is not an option’IAASTD 2008

Move to a more agro-ecological farming approach from an industrial, fossil fuel based model

how to enable the poorest – or not so very poor – to eat fairly, sustainably and well?

state responsibilities? social justice, rights to food?

how can people reconnect with food and each other?

Dr Rosemary CollierSchool of Life Sciences

Food production as an Food production as an ecosystem serviceecosystem service

Concept of ecosystem goods and services ‘Benefits people obtain from ecosystems’

SupportingSupportingSupporting RegulatingRegulatingRegulating ProvisioningProvisioningProvisioning CulturalCulturalCultural

•soil formation

•photosynthesis

•primary production

•nutrient cycling

•water cycling

•…

•air quality

•climate

•water quality

•erosion

•pest and disease

•pollination

•natural hazard

•…

•food/feed

•fibre

•fuel

•ornamentals

•novel products

•genetic resources

•fresh water

•…

•spiritual value

•educational value

•inspirational value

•aesthetic value

•recreational value

•…

Required for the production of all other services

Required for the production of all other services

Benefits obtained from the regulation of the environment

Benefits obtained from the regulation of the environment

Material benefits obtained

from the environment

Material benefits obtained

from the environment

Non-material benefits obtained

from the environment

Non-material benefits obtained

from the environment

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - Ecosystem Goods and Services

• Delivery of one ecosystem service usually requires ‘support’ from others

• Use of land/ecosystems to increase provision of one service can reduce provision of other services

• Biodiversity is key to delivery of many services

Food production

• Provisioning service

• Can have negative impacts on delivery of other services because of:– Reduction in biodiversity – impact on

range of ecosystem services, including some that are important to food production itself (e.g. pollination)

– ‘Pollution’ – impact on climate regulation, water quality and other services

– Demands on resources e.g. water

• General recognition that need to improve delivery of other ecosystem services – whilst increasing food production

• Initiatives in UK and globally• At what spatial scale(s) should we

consider delivery of ecosystem services, including food production?• Field?• Landscape?• National? • European?• Global?

‘Sustainable intensification’

CAP reform

Dr Ben RichardsonPolitics and International Studies

Social Justice in the Sugarcane IndustryA study into the global expansion of

sugarcane production and how this affects the rural poor

Are rising prices for agricultural commodities good or bad for the world’s poor?

Is the use of crops for biofuel a waste of food or a way to boost agriculture and provide green energy?

Is a job as a farmer or worker in the sugarcane industry better than nothing for the rural poor?

Professor Laura GreenSchool of Life Sciences

1.4 billion people

Income less than $2 per day – need meat / animal products

Many can eat ‘grass’ and scraps

1961 - 2007

Income increasesmeat eating increases

Animals in developed countriesHuge demands on production

e.g. dairy cow now produce 10,000 litres milk p.a. dairy cow 1980s produced 5,000

Many animals (pigs, poultry, cows, sheep) fed cereals / fish meal

Could be for human food or biofuels

Proposal ‘sustainable intensification’

What about animal welfare?

The cost of endemic diseases

Over to You …