Food Supply Forum Calls Food Security Top Issue for EU Science Adviser

ISSUED: 26 November 2009

FOOD SECURITY TOP ISSUE FOR EU’S SCIENCE CHIEF

At ECPA’s Food Supply Forum, experts agree that adapting food production and modes of agriculture will require science-based solutions

Food Supply Forum moderator Neil Parish, former Chairman of the European Parliament agriculture committee, wrapped up the event by calling for food security to be the key issue for the EU’s coming Science Advisor.

Prof. John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK government stressed that all agricultural policy must be founded on science and be evidence based. “Having a chief scientific advisor with the responsibility to look at all stages of policy development has real potential to improve policy-making at the EU” said. Beddington in his keynote address to 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 the ideological clutter that tends to obscure our vision. What we need to shape good food policy is evidence, scientifically valid evidence.”

Beddington depicted what he calls the ‘perfect storm’ in the making with four drivers: climate, food, energy and water.

The event attracted more than 150 scientists, policy makers, industry representatives and NGO’s from every perspective to the Concert Noble. It was designed to explore competing visions of food security and how Europe can best meet its supply challenges. Following Beddington’s opening remarks, a lively and open debate took place including audience participation.

A debate panel examined the impact of various issues such as population growth, food shortages, food pricing, climate change and biodiversity on the food supply.  The panellists were:

• John Beddington, UK Government’s 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, EurActi

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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.

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