Fair Play in Food & Farming:Linking Sustainability Trends

Presentation to Food and Fairness Inquiry

Second hearing - ‘Fair Play’: Inequalities of opportunity

Sophia Tickell

23rd October 2009

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The Sustainability Challenges

Demographic ShiftsDemographic Shifts

Climate Change

Water Quality and Consumption

Land Constraints

Energy Security

Our current food system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for:

•fertilisers

•the mechanisation of farming

•long distribution chains

•processing and packaging

•refrigerating and cooking foods

Even without climate change the assumption that crude oil production can continue to rise is being questioned.

The Oil Crunch”, report by UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil & Energy Security (ITPOES) latest in flurry of reports to argue the urgency of acting on peak oil:

•A peak in cheap, easily available oil production is likely to hit by 2013•More of a security threat than terrorism•Effects will be felt “in the next five years”

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Loss

Dietary Changes

Future food production and distribution?

– Increase foreign aid and government budgets for agriculture

– Invest in R&D to maximise yield and minimise inputs

– Support small farmers in access to assets, markets, credit, knowledge and risk management

– Provide social protection in land, water transactions

– Liberalize trade in developed country agriculture, including reducing subsidies (especially in the US and EU)

– Provide technical assistance to ensure long-term security of supply agreements benefit all parties