Consultation begins in effort to beat growing food security crisis

Published on Thursday 28 May 2009 19:02

THE Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the UK's largest funder of agri-food research with an annual budget of £450 million, has launched a consultation on future efforts required to tackle the growing, but preventable food security crisis.

With a rapidly increasing population, global harvests threatened by climate change, the very real danger of exotic and endemic animal diseases and with a severe economic downturn disrupting the flow of trade, the world is facing a serious food security crisis.

The consultation, on behalf of the UK Research Councils, is seeking views on how research relating to production, supply and consumption of food for both the domestic and international markets can be developed. Responses to the consultation will shape a food security research road map. This will set out the research across a wide range of disciplines that will need to address the many challenges that lie ahead.

Professor Janet Allan, the director of research with BBSRC, said: "We need to increase global food supply by 50 per cent before 2030. This consultation is an opportunity for all interested organisations and individuals to comment on future research we need to deliver and avoid a growing food security crisis.

"We are looking for responses to questions that include research targets in food production and supply, ways to ensure knowledge transfer into practical application and public policy and providing the skill and training we need."

The consultation is now open and will close on 17 July. Full details can be found at www.bbsrc.ac.uk/consultations