Beyond foresight to the frontier of food: the global food landscape in 2050

In the past decade, concerns about the resilience and sustainability of global food systems have raced up national and global agendas. A new report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights how climate change is imperilling the four pillars of food security: availability, access, use, and stability.

What’s more, the UK government recently announced its plan to conduct the first major review of the nation’s food system, to ensure that the food industry is ‘fit for the future’. At the same time, the FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO have confirmed that the number of chronically undernourished people in the world is rising. Unsurprisingly, conflict and the climate crisis were identified as the principal drivers of this change.

This public debate, co-hosted by the London International Development Centre (LIDC) and Nature Food, will explore the following:

• While ‘rethinking the global food system’ is necessary will it be sufficient?
• What does disruptive research look like in this space?
• Will ‘hi-tech’ food dominate the future?
• Will new definitions of sustainability be required in this landscape?

Speakers include:

• Dr David Nabarro, Strategic Director, 4SD, co-winner of World Food Prize 2018
• Professor Claire Heffernan, Director, London International Development Centre
• Sir David King, former UK Special Representative for Climate Change & Partner, Systemiq
• Professor Alan Dangour, Professor in Food and Nutrition for Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
• Professor Sandy Thomas, Director, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition
• Professor Simon Pearson, Professor of Agri-Food Technology, University of Lincoln

Links

• London International Development Centre