Published in February 2009 by Chatham House this is the final report of its food security project. The report says that the UK food chain needs to be prepared to manage continued volatility in global food markets, and that in the future higher the food sector will need to operate profitably around a significantly higher price norm, one that reflects the true cost of resources and incorporates wider social and ecological considerations.
The report argues for action now to ensure future food supply needs can be met. It says that the environmental impacts of modern agriculture and of the wider food chain can no longer be ignored, that more food will have to be produced, but much more sustainably. Increased public investment in research on agriculture and food will be needed.
National and devolved governments must recognise their role as drivers of transformation. The UK government and European Union should be taking a lead - developing a vision for the future and the policies to catalyse that transition. For the consumer, new uncertainties over the affordability of food, along with continuing environmental and health concerns, will mean changes in consumption patterns.
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