Deadline for Submissions Midday Tuesday 31 March 2009

Today the All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development launched its new Inquiry in the House of Commons. The Inquiry, which is now calling for evidence, will look at whether the UK is meeting its current commitments, moral or otherwise, for addressing issues of global food security and; how well equipped the UK is to play its part in generating long-term predictable and sustainable development for those affected in the developing world.

APPG Chair Dr. Ian Gibson MP announced “This Inquiry will act to focus cross-party and wider public attention on the key issue of global food security at a time when the effects of the economic downturn will inevitably be felt hardest by the poorest of the poor in the developing world.”

The Inquiry will seek to take both oral and written evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and eminent authorities on this subject, and associated topics. The Inquiry is seeking to obtain written evidence in response to several specific questions, whilst also exploring some of the wider associated issues, these include:

1. How can 9 billion people be fed equitably, healthily, safely and sustainably by 2050?
   
2. How significant a threat does a lack of food security present globally?
   
3. What is currently being done to address the international risks associated with food security?
4. How is the UK part of the global problem and/or solution?
   
5. What role should the UK Government perform in ensuring that food production is sustainable at a worldwide level?
6. Is there a coherent cross-Government food strategy in the UK?
   
7. Does UK plc have a global responsibility to share its appropriate science, skills and technology to help those in developing and emerging markets face the ongoing challenges presented by food security?
   
8. What roles do, and should, UK private industry; civil society; academia and research institutes play in addressing issues of global food security?
9. What are the global challenges faced, if any, in relation to the following aspects of the global food system:
   • Soil fertility;
   • Land use, reform and availability;
   • The development of biofuels as crops;
   • Water security;
   • Demographic and population change;
   • Energy security;
   • Climate change;
   • The impact of livestock rearing;
   • Food safety;
   • Hidden hunger, nutrition and health;
   • Available expertise and the provision of suitable training;
   • The role of science and technology;
   • Farmer practices and farm management;
   • Trade, infrastructure and global markets;
   • The role of indigenous knowledge;
   • The good governance agenda.
10. How do you think the food security situation/debate will change over the next 40 years?
11. What are other countries (developed and developing) doing to combat issues of food security both nationally and internationally, and with what success? How can the UK best engage, support or replicate these examples?
12. Where examples of best and worst practice exist in tackling issues of food security (in both public and private sectors) and what should the UK do to replicate the successful projects and assist those which require it?
13. What additional, or different roles, should the UK play (both individually and in collaboration with other national and international entities) to address issues of global food security?
14. Any other comments

The APPG invites all interested parties to address these and related matters in writing by midday Tuesday 31 March 2009.