Seminar “Global Food Security – challenges and choices”

Joseph Rowntree Foundation Visionary, Geoff Tansey discussed global food security with very receptive European Commission officials at a seminar organized by EPHAC.

Food security is a hot issue and once again at the top of political agendas. Not only in a classical sense, but in terms of national security. Commodity price peaks in 2008 witnessed food riots. Global food security is being debated as one of the main challenges that the future Common Agriculture Policy should address.

The problems of global food security were discussed and it was stressed that it must be addressed not only in terms of quantity but of adequacy. The core goal of sustainable food systems should be to feed everyone sustainably, equitably and healthily.

Mr. Tansey highlighted that the big problem was not producing enough food but addressing power, control, risks and benefits. Key challenges and factors affecting food security - from local to global and beyond production to sustainable equitable consumption were presented. He argued that the ways in which the international rules affecting the food system were set are unjust and do not reflect the interests of the poor. The global patent regime, widely condemned for restricting access to medicines in the developing world, was likely to be equally damaging in affecting world food supply and consumption patterns.

Following the seminar, European Commission representatives expressed interest in arranging a more in-depth discussion of these issues.

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