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Warnings over future food crisis | Warnings over future food crisis |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A world food crisis can be expected in the coming decades as our demand for food outstrips our ability to produce it, a UK government adviser has warned. | |
New chief science adviser, Professor John Beddington, said the crisis could be as serious as climate change and may hit sooner. | New chief science adviser, Professor John Beddington, said the crisis could be as serious as climate change and may hit sooner. |
The world's 6.5 billion population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. | The world's 6.5 billion population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050. |
This, combined with growing consumption as poverty is alleviated, will put huge pressure on food supplies, he said. | This, combined with growing consumption as poverty is alleviated, will put huge pressure on food supplies, he said. |
No simple solution | No simple solution |
Professor Beddington said there would be a huge knock-on effect as economic growth lifts people out of poverty in countries like China and India. | Professor Beddington said there would be a huge knock-on effect as economic growth lifts people out of poverty in countries like China and India. |
He told BBC News: "Something is actually happening out there for very good reasons, namely that poverty is being alleviated. | He told BBC News: "Something is actually happening out there for very good reasons, namely that poverty is being alleviated. |
"To some extent we are actually trying - and properly so - trying to eliminate poverty. Now as poverty is eliminated big changes in consumer demand occur." | "To some extent we are actually trying - and properly so - trying to eliminate poverty. Now as poverty is eliminated big changes in consumer demand occur." |
Climate change is expected to worsen the problem, reducing rainfall and affecting crop growth. | Climate change is expected to worsen the problem, reducing rainfall and affecting crop growth. |
There is a real, fundamental problem emerging in food policy that, frankly, has been under-recognised Professor Tim Lang, City University | There is a real, fundamental problem emerging in food policy that, frankly, has been under-recognised Professor Tim Lang, City University |
Added to this, efforts to tackle climate change - by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels - are taking more land away from food production. | Added to this, efforts to tackle climate change - by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels - are taking more land away from food production. |
Professor Tim Lang of City University has welcomed the chief scientist's effort to draw attention to a relatively neglected issue. | Professor Tim Lang of City University has welcomed the chief scientist's effort to draw attention to a relatively neglected issue. |
He told BBC News: "I welcome it, that a chief scientist would do this is a sign that he's expressing what a lot of us out there feel is a very big shift in the food economy. | He told BBC News: "I welcome it, that a chief scientist would do this is a sign that he's expressing what a lot of us out there feel is a very big shift in the food economy. |
"There is a real, fundamental problem emerging in food policy that, frankly, has been under-recognised." | "There is a real, fundamental problem emerging in food policy that, frankly, has been under-recognised." |
Professor Beddington said there would be no simple solution and is calling for more agricultural research as a matter of urgency to help tackle the problem. | Professor Beddington said there would be no simple solution and is calling for more agricultural research as a matter of urgency to help tackle the problem. |
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