Transcript the Tickell presentation.

Fair Play in Food & Farming:
Linking Sustainability Trends
Presentation to Food and Fairness Inquiry
Second hearing - ‘Fair Play’: Inequalities of
opportunity
Sophia Tickell
23rd October 2009
The Sustainability Challenges
2
Demographic Shifts
Climate Change
Water Quality and Consumption
Land Constraints
Energy Security
Our current food system is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for:
•fertilisers
•the mechanisation of farming
•long distribution chains
•processing and packaging
•refrigerating and cooking foods
Even without climate change the assumption that crude oil production can
continue to rise is being questioned.
The Oil Crunch”, report by UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil & Energy
Security (ITPOES) latest in flurry of reports to argue the urgency of acting
on peak oil:
•A peak in cheap, easily available oil production is likely to
hit by 2013
•More of a security threat than terrorism
•Effects will be felt “in the next five years”
Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Loss
Dietary Changes
Future food production and distribution?
– Increase foreign aid and government budgets for
agriculture
– Invest in R&D to maximise yield and minimise inputs
– Support small farmers in access to assets, markets, credit,
knowledge and risk management
– Provide social protection in land, water transactions
– Liberalize trade in developed country agriculture, including
reducing subsidies (especially in the US and EU)
– Provide technical assistance to ensure long-term security
of supply agreements benefit all parties