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The Role of Research in Global Food and Nutrition Security

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The Role of Research in Global Food and Nutrition Security THE ROLE OF RESEARCH IN GLOBAL FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY Expo 2015 EU Scientific Steering Committee Discussion paper © European Union, 2015 This document reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held respon- sible for any use which may be made of the informa- tion contained therein. EUR 27123 EN ISBN 978-92-79-45830-9 ISSN 1831-9424 doi: 10.2788/521449 All images copyright European Union, except for the cover: 1 1. © cristaltran - Fotolia 2. © monticello - Fotolia 2 3. © WavebreakMediaMicro - Fotolia 3 Foreword It has been my pleasure to chair responsibility to go further, and the Expo 2015 EU Scientific this may include encouraging Steering Committee tasked with healthy eating patterns to avoid producing this discussion paper diseases associated with over- on the role of research in glob- consumption of calories coupled al food and nutrition security as with low levels of physical activity. part of its participation at Expo Milano 2015. When I was invit- The drafting of this discussion ed by the European Parliament paper was guided by 11 scien- and European Commission to tific experts alongside five stake- lead the work of this committee holder participants and advi- I gladly accepted. sors of international repute (see annex I). Throughout the process we have The issue of food and nutrition security is kept one goal always in mind, to draw on one that affects us all. We must look to inno- the crucial role that research can play in vative solutions to increase food production the fight against world hunger and over- if we are to feed a growing world population coming the challenges associated with en- healthily and sustainably. European research suring food and nutrition security for all. has a key role to play in unlocking the poten- tial of agriculture and in enabling those in The present discussion document gives an developing countries to escape poverty. overview of where European research can add the most value in relation to tackling food The steering committee has prepared a clear and nutrition security challenges and points cut and realistic research agenda focused to areas where we can expand our research on where the EU can add most value in potential. Moreover, it highlights the need addressing the production of, access to and to develop a governance structure that will consumption of food. We have also tried allow sharing of best practices and facilitate to address structural issues related to new the transfer of knowledge and innovation to knowledge and the transfer of knowledge feed the planet sustainably. It should stim- into use. Economic, public and environmen- ulate a global discussion with stakeholders tal health have all been considered in the con- and the general public, ultimately shaping a text of this discussion paper as we looked at legacy for Expo 2015. seven main themes where research could be better utilised to ensure food and nutri- Finally, I would like to thank all members of tion security. We have chosen to use the the steering committee, as well as EU Expo term food and nutrition security through- Commissioner General, David Wilkinson and out our paper as the issues at stake are his staff at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) so much more complex than ensuring who have facilitated this project. availability, access and stability of calories. The EU has already demonstrated its com- Mr Franz Fischler, mitment to turn the tide against undernutri- Chair of the Expo 2015 EU Scientific tion; however, we have a political and moral Steering Committee Steering Committee for the EU scientific programme for Expo 2015 The Steering Committee of the EU sci- sioner General, David Wilkinson in Decem- entific programme for Expo 2015 is a joint ber 2013. The three members of the panel initiative of the European Commission and were Pamela Byrne, Pier Sandro Coccon- the European Parliament and was launched celli and Harry Kuiper. Based on the agree- on 21st March 2014. ment between the chair and the EU Expo Commissioner General the committee also Given the political importance of the Expo includes stakeholder participants from the theme, this Committee was set up in order United Nations, OECD, the private sector to ensure that the European Union takes the and civil society. Subject to the agreement opportunity offered by the platform of Expo with the chairman the committee can invite 2015 “to establish its role as a key player in external experts to specific meetings when- this global debate […] and to work towards ever necessary. fruitful collaboration on these matters with other stakeholders, both public and private” The secretariat of the steering committee (COM(2013) 255 final). is provided by the EU Expo 2015 Taskforce and based in the Joint Research Centre, the Franz Fischler was nominated as its chair European Commission’s in-house science by former Commissioner Maire Geoghegan- service. Working in close cooperation with Quinn. Its eleven scientific experts have policy Directorates-General the JRC’s mis- been selected in a broad and comprehen- sion is to provide EU policies with independ- sive process by a selection panel, which ent, evidence-based scientific and technical was nominated by the EU Expo Commis- support throughout the whole policy cycle. Franz Fischler Ewa Jakubczyk Chairman, Expo 2015 EU Scientific Steering Committee Department of Food Engineering and Process Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW David Wilkinson EU Commissioner General for Expo 2015, Claudia Sorlini European Commission, JRC Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano Scientific experts: Jo Swinnen Tim Benton LICOS - Centre for Institutions & Economic UK Global Food Security Programme and School Performance, KU Leuven of Biology, University of Leeds Joachim von Braun Hannelore Daniel Centre for Development Research (ZEF), Universität Bonn Centre of Life and Food Sciences, Technische Universität München Stakeholder participants and advisors: Béatrice Darcy-Vrillon Ken Ash Department of Nutrition, Chemical Food Safety Trade and Agriculture Directorate, OECD and Consumer Behaviour, INRA , Paris Eduardo Rojas Briales Katharina Hedlund UN Commissioner-General for Expo 2015, FAO Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, Lunds Universitet Allan Buckwell Institute of European Environmental Policy Peter Heffernan Marine Institute, Galway Mella Frewen FoodDrinkEurope Esther Kok RIKILT Wageningen UR Mikael Karlsson European Environmental Bureau Maria Saarela VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Helsinki Table of contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 INTRODUCTION 4 WHAT IS FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY? 5 WHY IS FOOD SUCH AN ISSUE? DEMAND AND SUPPLY UNDER INCREASED PRESSURE 5 FINDING SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY: THE NEED FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 7 WHERE ARE THE ReseARCH CHALLENGes IN ADDRessING FOOD AND NUTRITION seCURITY? 8 THEME A: IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION – HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION 9 THEME B: INCREASE FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY 10 THEME C: REDUCE LOSSES AND WASTE – MORE EFFICIENT FOOD CHAIN 12 THEME D: MANAGE THE LAND FOR ALL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES – SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT 13 THEME E: INCREASE AGRICULTURAL OUTPUTS SUSTAINABLY – SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION 14 THEME F: UNDERSTAND FOOD MARKETS IN AN INCREASINGLY GLOBALISED FOOD SYSTEM 17 THEME G: INCREASE EQUITY IN THE FOOD SYSTEM 18 STRUCTURAL IssUes THAT APPLY ACROss ALL THEMes 20 SETTING THE AGENDA: FORESIGHTING AND FUTURES’ RESEARCH 21 ADDRESSING MULTIPLE GOALS: STIMULATING INTERDISCIPLINARY AND STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND ACTION 21 INVESTING IN AND ALIGNING RESEARCH 22 TRANSFERRING RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE INTO INNOVATION AND PRACTICE 23 EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION TO THE PUBLIC 23 WHERE CAN THE EU ADD MOST VALUE? 24 Executive Summary Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life is the other natural resources; climate change theme of the 99th World Expo in Milan in is also threatening production growth in 2015. To elaborate this theme the EU estab- many areas. Additionally, reducing the en- lished a scientific steering committee to vironmental impact of agriculture, includ- advise on the challenges of global food and ing greenhouse gas emissions, may in fu- nutrition security. The Expo 2015 EU Sci- ture require new and innovative farming entific Steering Committee, established to methods. provide expert advice on the Expo’s theme, has produced this “discussion paper” to Where are the research launch a debate, to foster cross-disciplinary & innovation challenges? exchange, define research questions, and identify the EU’s role in addressing global There is unlikely to be any single or easy food and nutrition security. solution to tackle food and nutrition security fully5 and many of the challenges of ensur- Currently, 805 million1 people are chronical- ing global food and nutrition security can- ly hungry in the developing world2. Around not be adequately addressed without the two billion more people suffer from micro- participation of the research community. nutrient deficiencies. Lack of adequate nu- In the past, the focus has been on increas- trition is primarily due to lack of access to ing food production to meet a growing food and this is in most cases due to relative demand but recently more emphasis has or absolute poverty3. Furthermore, limited been put on the fact that up to a third of the access to food and rapid food price infla- world’s food production is lost or wasted6. tion can be a cause of civil unrest and drive Moreover, food consumption patterns in human migration. Paradoxically, at the same combination with sedentary lifestyles can time as billions suffer food insecurity more turn into significant and rising burdens than two billion people are overweight or on public health7. Thus, it is of paramount obese as a consequence of over-consump- importance to take a “food systems” view8. tion of calories and lack of physical activity. This progressively increases personal, This requires equal attention on improving public-health and environmental costs and agricultural and fisheries’ productivity, thereby increases the pressure on the glob- reducing the negative environmental im- al food and health systems4.
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