With a rapidly increasing global population set to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 coupled with environmental change, the challenge of feeding the world has never been greater. Making UK farming more resilient and sustainable will improve the UK’s ability to feed itself, while also benefitting the global food system more broadly.
Five innovation projects that directly seek to enhance food security have been shortlisted for the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council’s (BBSRC) prestigious Innovator of the Year awards. BBSRC leads on the Global Food Security programme, which is hosted by UK Research and Innovation.
Bananas, the UK’s favourite fruit, appear at first glance to be among our most reliable and resilient fresh produce. They are stocked in every supermarket on every day of the year, and their price seldom varies by more than a few pence per kilo. But beneath this apparently smooth and steady supply lies a complex international network affected by extreme weather, plant disease, social and political shifts, and the looming threat of climate change.
GFS Insight aims to offer a balanced and interdisciplinary representation of the current state of knowledge in a particular area relating to food security. This issue outlines the need for a food system that supports both health and the Paris climate agreement, exploring impacts of food production and consumption as well as potential interventions to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions across the system.
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The Global Food Security (GFS) programme has published a new workshop report that highlights the risks and challenges of using alternatives to conventional pesticides in the food system.
The GCRF Translation Awards call will fund activities that aim to achieve outcomes that deliver impact. The call aims to enable research outputs of current or previous BBSRC-funded (or other research council-funded research activity that falls within BBSRC remit) to be further developed into practical application, which delivers benefit and impact in developing countries.
Pesticides provide numerous benefits, yet pressures on their use has led to industry exploring other viable options for pest, weed and disease management. This report examines the challenges of using alternatives to conventional pesticides, and highlights future research priorities for biopesticides and Integrated Pest Management strategies.
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The Global Food Security (GFS) programme has published a new report highlighting the opportunities and challenges facing the UK food retail and manufacturing business in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 17 SDGs were adopted by the UN in 2015 with the aim of driving the implementation of global sustainable development. This report details discussion at an industry focused workshop exploring how far UK food retail and manufacturing businesses are prepared for and engaged with the SDGs, and how research might help them play their part in meeting the goals.
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A team from the Policy Lab workshop were awarded a prize of £5,000 to produce a report examining how we can provide food alongside other ecosystem services, incorporating examples of best practice from other countries.
An interdisciplinary group of researchers attended a three day workshop, forming small groups to consider future priorities for policy to better support multi-functional landscapes. One group was awarded £5,000 to develop a Policy Lab report and journal publication based on their work.
Working group findings were published as two reports: Environmental tipping points and food system dynamics: Executive Summary; and Environmental tipping points and food system dynamics: Main Report. These reports were unveiled at a Parliamentary event attended by MPs, policy-makers, leading industry figures, researchers and funding agencies.
