LONDON—In a new report, “
Reaping the Benefits: Science and the sustainable intensification of global agriculture,” The Royal Society is calling for a £2 billion "Grand Challenge" research program on global food security. The report says the UK should lead international research efforts in order to achieve the massive increase in food crop production (at least 50 percent) that will be required by 2050 to meet global food demands without damaging the environment.
According to the report, the "Grand Challenge" program should support areas of research that have been neglected in recent years, including exploring new methods of crop management to increase yields and minimize environmental impact. It should also support the development of improved crop varieties by both conventional breeding and genetic modification.
Professor Sir David Baulcombe FRS, who chaired the Royal Society's study, said: "We need to take action now to stave off food shortages. If we wait even five to ten years, it may be too late. Biological science has progressed in leaps and bounds in the last decade and UK scientists have been at the head of the pack when it comes to topics related to food crops. In the UK we have the potential to come up with viable scientific solutions for feeding a growing population and we have a responsibility to realize this potential. There's a very clear need for policy action and publicly-funded science to make sure this happens."