ROGER WILLIAMS CHAIRS WESTMINSTER FOOD AND NUTRITION FORUM SEMINAR ON FOOD SECURITY

12.13.27pm GMT Fri 6th Nov 2009

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs spokesperson, today chaired a session of the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum (WF&NF) focussing on the role of GM produce in food security. The seminar was entitled 'Climate Change, Food Security and Sustainability'

Speaking after the seminar, Mr Williams said:

"Food security has been rising up the political agenda for a number of years and I welcomed the chance to chair a meeting to discuss this issue.

"The panel was made up of a wide range of opinions ranging from those that are pro GM, such as a representative of Monsanto, to those that are entirely opposed to GM, such as the Director of the Soil Association.

"Whilst there was clearly disagreement in the role of GM amongst some of the panel it was clear that all these organisations recognised the need for sound scientific research on the issues of food production, GM produce and the effect of climate change on both these issues.

"The global population is expected to reach 8.3 billion people by 2030 and, as a result of growing wealth in many developing nations, demand for food will increase by 50%. By 2050 the demand for food will increase by 100% on the current level and agriculture will be in the front line of delivering.

"The Government must take all necessary steps to ensure that the UK is secure in terms of food production, and also that it can provide sufficient food to those areas that may not be able to produce it themselves as a result of climate change and rising sea levels.

"Britain used to be a world leader in scientific research and technological research in the food sector and the Government should make it a priority to return to that position."

NOTES:

Speakers at the seminar included: Professor john Beddington, Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government, Dr Paul Burrows, Policy Director at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Sue Davies, Chief Policy Advisor at Which?, Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF), Peter Kendall, President of the National Farmers Union and Melanie Leech, Director General of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF)