As part of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Hyderabad, India, the UK has reaffirmed its commitment to improving global food security through sustainable agriculture.
Speaking at the meeting, the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey, addressed the issue of global food security. She urged countries to come together and harness the power of nature to get food to people’s plates both now and for future generations.
The main focus of the meeting was to identify actions and solutions to help tackle global food security and nutrition.
These include moving to sustainable agriculture to lower impacts on climate and environment while increasing global food security and ensuring agriculture and food systems are more resilient to shocks.
2023: The year of rising food insecurity
Global food security is a pressing issue across the continent, particularly in the developing world.
Domestic food price inflation remains high worldwide, and conflict, climate variability, and economic downturns are major drivers slowing down progress, particularly where inequality is high.
The three main threats to food insecurity are:
- World population growth;
- The increasing demand for food;
- The growing prices of food;
- Decreasing availability of land; and
- An increase in food waste.
How can we achieve sustainable food supply chains?
Sustainable food supply chains can reduce impacts such as deforestation caused by unsustainable agriculture.
Moreover, they ensure global food security by providing support for farmers and rural communities to continue to feed a growing population.
Addressing the meeting, Thérèse Coffey said: “Building more resilient food security must be an urgent, ongoing priority for G20, and sustainable agriculture must be at the heart of our efforts.
“As well as making the most of science, tech, and innovation, we need to recognise that protecting and supporting the power of nature is essential. In many cases, the most effective and cost-effective way to roll out solutions is at scale.”
Ongoing commitments to sustainable global food security
These discussions build on the UK’s ongoing commitment to develop and scale up more sustainable agricultural practices and global food security at an international level.
The most prominent of these was the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit in Washington last month. At the Summit, the UK announced a £3m investment to help fund a new consortium to develop, test, and scale up new and alternative fertilisers that can enhance soil health and agricultural productivity.
Additionally, the UK is making huge strides at home to support farmers to run sustainable, profitable, and productive farming businesses. More than £168m is being made available to farmers this year to drive innovation, support food production, improve animal health and welfare, and protect the environment.
Up to £30m is also being awarded to cutting-edge farming projects that will boost food production, move towards net zero, and create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.
Coffey explained: “Farmers are always forward-looking. Innovation is key to driving a resilient, productive, and sustainable agriculture sector that puts food on our tables while protecting and restoring the environment.”
She concluded: “Alongside our new farming schemes, these grants will help to support farmers and pave the way for a technological transformation that will help produce global food security for generations to come.”
