Food for thought from the UK: Climate change threatens food security
The British government has called for “a radical rethink” in UK food production and consumption. The announcement follows months of internal debate over the future of British food security in the face of increased climate change and global population growth over the next 20-30 years. According to Robert Watson, chief scientific advisor at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: “The [test] for us will be, as the Earth’s climate changes, what will be the challenges not only in the UK but throughout the world?”
While UK food security is currently stable, the British government and private sector understand that as changing weather patterns, desertification and loss of glacial river waters reduce global agricultural output, such stability is not guaranteed. A major Chatham House report expounds:
A crisis could develop through some form of external ’shock’, such as animal or crop disease, or extreme weather events… What we had thought of as abundant food supply is anything but. Western societies, in particular, have tended to take their food supply for granted. The global system will reach breaking point unless action is taken.
Great Britain recognizes climate change directly threatens global food security, and that Britons will not be shielded from resultant economic and humanitarian crises. “The UK can no longer afford to take its food supply for granted.” Neither can the US.
