Demand rises for rising population:

Global food system needs overhaul

UK: The world needs fundamental changes to the global food system to feed the expanding population, according to a British Government report out Monday on how to feed the planet until 2050.

Governments must take action to change dietary habits, cut waste, reduce subsidies and embrace genetically modified food, said the “Global Food and Farming Futures” report.

The study led by Professor John Beddington, the British Government’s chief scientific adviser, said that with the global population forecast to reach nine billion in 40 years’ time, radical changes were needed to a system already struggling to feed the existing population.

“With the global population set to rise and food prices likely to increase, it is crucial that a wide range of complementary actions from policy makers, farmers and businesses are taken now,” Beddington said.

“Urgent change is required throughout the food system to bring sustainability centre stage and end hunger. It is also vital for other areas, such as climate change mitigation, conflict, and economic growth.”

The report found that the threat of hunger could increase, saying that current efforts were already stalling and food prices could rise substantially over the next 40 years. As hunger spreads, the threat of migration and conflict will increase, while wider economic growth would also be affected, it said.

The global food system is already living beyond its means, consuming resources faster than they can be replenished, it said.

Substantial changes to water and energy use and addressing climate change are needed to bring about sustainability, the report found. London, Tuesday, AFP