EU policy-makers must recognise Europe's role in meeting global food security challenge
Crop Protection Association
High-level recognition of the global food security challenge must be supported by a science-based EU policy framework to ensure Europe plays its part in feeding a rapidly rising world population.
The European crop protection sector is capable of delivering hi-tech solutions to help farmers increase food production sustainably, but the impact of current EU policies in areas such as pesticides and GMOs runs a serious risk of stifling innovation, deterring RD investment and damaging the competitiveness of European agriculture.
That was the key message delivered today by CPA chief executive Nick von Westenholz as he chaired the opening plenary session at the 2013 CIR AgChem Forum in Barcelona.
"There is now widespread recognition of the scale of the global food security challenge. The world's population is set to exceed 9 billion by 2050, and with farmland, water and energy resources in limited supply, we must find new ways to produce more food from less," said Mr von Westenholz.
"But while Europe's policy-makers may have accepted the urgent need to meet growing global food demand, there remains a significant disconnect between that high-level recognition and the policy action required to achieve it."
Mr von Westenholz said the crop protection industry must focus on two key areas to address the challenge of increasing food production sustainably.
"Firstly, we need to impress upon policy-makers that securing a balance between productivity and environmental management is central to achieving a sustainable system of agriculture. Politicians need to foster both, and work hard with farmers and the wider food and agriculture industries to ensure that policies and regulations intended to further European farming’s environmental sustainability don’t destroy its economic sustainability and prevent it playing its part in feeding the globe," he said.
"Secondly, we mustn't lose sight of our responsibility to listen to public concerns about the environmental impact of the food system, and have respect for them. As a sector we have the research and expertise to provide farm-level innovations which can support sound environmental management alongside increased productivity. But to realise the full potential of these advances, we need to do more to engage and explain the nature of our industry, and to communicate the key role plant science and crop protection solutions can play in addressing the global food security challenge," concluded Mr von Westenholz.
