Food security is food for thought
The Exeter Initiative for Science and Technology is launching its first conference on 4th September at the University of Exeter Forum, bringing together leading figures from business and academia to raise awareness and discuss the impact of data, science and technology on food security and production.
Inside the last 30 years, Britain’s self-sufficiency has fallen from 78% to just 60% in food production, and the conference aims at evaluating farming techniques, and addressing the challenge of securing self sufficiency for the future.
Yesterday (Thursday 7th August) was when the National Farmers Union calculates that we would have run out of food without imports, and supermarkets have been criticised for flooding the markets with cheap imports, instead of British fare.
On the day, conference delegates will be able to speak with representatives from a number of companies and organisations that are exhibiting at the event, including The Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, Rothamsted Research, the Met Office and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Speakers at the event are from Syngenta, Waitrose, Quickes Traditional, The Met Office, eCow and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers as well the University of Exeter.
The following day, there is the opportunity for conference attendees to take a tour of the North Wyke Farm Platform from 10am – 12.30pm. The North Wyke Farm Platform, integrated with Rothamsted Research and based in Okehampton, is a globally-unique scientific research facility which allows different farming practices to be evaluated.
During the visit, research staff will be describing how the platform has been designed to address the food security challenge by producing more food from the same or less land, using less water, energy and other inputs.
Robert Orr, farm platform manager at Rothamsted Research North Wyke said: “We are looking forward to welcoming ExIST conference attendees to visit the farm platform which has been funded by BBSRC to address, for lowland grassland livestock systems, the UK’s food security challenge – something that will be discussed extensively at the conference.”
Robert McIlwraith, chair of ExIST, said “With the recent announcement that Britain is now just 60% self-sufficient in food production there couldn’t be a better time to discuss the food security issue. We now have over 90 delegates booked so the conference is set to provide a vibrant, high level presentation and networking opportunity and the tour of North Wyke the following day will also give delegates the chance to reflect on the previous day’s programme. We hope you will join us.”
For more information and to book your ticket or an exhibition stand please visit www.existexeter.co.uk/conference/
Tickets start from £48.00.
