Food Security To Be The Top Issue For EU’s Science Chief
At ECPAs Food Supply Forum, experts agree that adapting food production and modes of agriculture will require science-based solutions
Prof. John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK government asserted that all agricultural policy must be founded on science and have a sound evidence basis. Having a chief scientific advisor with the responsibility to look at all stages of policy development has real potential to improve policy-making, he said. Beddington delivered a keynote address at the Food Supply Forum: Choices & Implications event in Brussels, organised by the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA).
Food security is not an unfortunate condition of some distant land but a very European problem, said Jacques du Puy, President of ECPA. The biggest threat may not be nature, but ideological clutter that tends to obscure our vision. What we need is evidence, scientifically valid evidence.
Beddington depicted what he calls the perfect storm in the making with four drivers: energy, water, food and climate.
Wrapping up the food supply forum moderator Neil Parish, former Chairman of the European Parliaments agriculture committee called for food security to be the key issue for the EUs coming Science Advisor.
The event, which attracted an audience of more than 150 to the Concert Noble, was designed to explore competing visions of food security and how Europe can best meet its supply challenges. Following Beddingtons opening remarks, a lively and open debate took place.
Debate participants examined the impact of various issues such as population growth, food shortages, food pricing, climate change, biodiversity on the food supply. The panellists were as follows:
- John Beddington, UK Governments Chief Scientific Adviser
- Ariel Brunner, BirdLife
- Willy de Greef, EuropaBio
- Timothy Hall, DG Research, EC
- Jacques du Puy, ECPA
- Peter Melchett, UK Soil Association
- Frederic Simon, EurActiv
The European Crop Protection Association (ECPA) represents the crop protection industry interests at European level. Its members include all major companies and national associations across Europe. For more information: www.ecpa.eu.