UK food security under the spotlight in MPs' inquiry

The cross-party EFRA committee of MPs is to launch a new inquiry into UK food security – including the role of GM technology.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is seeking written submissions for the inquiry, which comes  four years after it last probed the subject.

The UK had a highly successful agricultural industry and the food and drink sector was responsible for 3.7 million jobs and 7% of the overall economy, the Committee said today, adding that the UK was 62% self-sufficient in food production.

“However, many domestic and international factors affect both production and prices for consumers as became evident during the world food price spike of 2008,” the committee said.

Globally, climate change, population growth, energy supply and water scarcity were all putting pressure on food production and had the potential to lead to higher food prices. “In the UK, food price inflation was 3.1% in 2012, rising to 4.4% by the middle of 2013.”

The new UK strategy for agricultural technologies sought to exploit opportunities to develop and adopt new and existing technologies, products and services to increase productivity, it added. “GM is one option. Supporters argue that it has the potential to increase crop yields and contribute to a more resilient agricultural system. Others fear the unknown long-term environmental implications of this technology.” 

To explore these points further, the committee is inviting written evidence on the following points:

• How best to improve UK (and EU) food security, including using resources more efficiently.
• The relationship between the price of food and the cost of producing it.
• The implications of volatility in global food supply and demand for UK food security.
• The potential value and contribution of science and GM technology to UK food security.
• How food and farming supply chains, and the current systems for traceability, can contribute to increased resilience.
• Whether climate change risks are adequately incorporated in UK food security strategies and planning.
• The obstacles facing food producers, including small farmers, seeking to increase production and access new markets.
• Ways of increasing self-sufficiency in products for which the UK has a comparative advantage.

The committee last looked into food security in 2009 and the new inquiry intends to follow up on issues raised then.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 10 December.