ADVANCING WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND ACHIEVING GENDER EQUALITY
We are strongly supporting the cause of gender equality by joining national and international political action and creating momentum for change. We are affiliated with and are campaigning on behalf of UNIFEM (part of UN Women), which is the women's fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women's rights and fostering women's empowerment. Gender equality is absolutely essential to achieving development and to building just societies.
It is the fundamental human right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence.
We are working within the areas of enhancement of women's economic security and human rights, ending violence against women, reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women and girls and advancement of gender justice in both stable and fragile states.
The spirit of these principles has been reflected and affirmed by the Millenium Declaration and the eight Millenium Development Goals for 2015, combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and gender inequality, and building partnerships for development. In addition, UN Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000.) on women, peace and security, and 1820 (2008.) on sexual violence in conflict are crucial references for UNIFEM's work in support of women in conflict and post- conflict situations.
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but it's achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied access to basic education and healthcare. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are under- represented in political and economic decision- making processes.
We are passionate champions for women and girls worldwide, providing them with a voice at the local, regional and global levels.
We are strongly supporting the cause of gender equality by joining national and international political action and creating momentum for change. We are affiliated with and are campaigning on behalf of UNIFEM (part of UN Women), which is the women's fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women's rights and fostering women's empowerment. Gender equality is absolutely essential to achieving development and to building just societies.
It is the fundamental human right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence.
We are working within the areas of enhancement of women's economic security and human rights, ending violence against women, reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women and girls and advancement of gender justice in both stable and fragile states.
The spirit of these principles has been reflected and affirmed by the Millenium Declaration and the eight Millenium Development Goals for 2015, combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and gender inequality, and building partnerships for development. In addition, UN Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000.) on women, peace and security, and 1820 (2008.) on sexual violence in conflict are crucial references for UNIFEM's work in support of women in conflict and post- conflict situations.
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but it's achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied access to basic education and healthcare. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are under- represented in political and economic decision- making processes.
We are passionate champions for women and girls worldwide, providing them with a voice at the local, regional and global levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL REFUGEES
Human induced climate change is threatening to make many parts of the world uninhabitable. In the next few decades, hundreds of millions of people may be forced to relocate because of environmental pressures. Water seems to be the most important determinant of these population movements.
Recent report from Working Group II of the Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change tells us about the dramatic changes in the relationship between water and society. The massive shifts we are facing will include more frequent droughts, the melting of glaciers, changing seasonality of snowmelt, the loss of soil moisture under high temperatures, more intense precipitation and flooding, more powerful tropical cyclones etc. In combination with the human- induced depletion of groundwater sources by pumping and the extensive pollution of rivers and lakes, future mass migrations on an unprecedented scale seem unavoidable.
This is a devastating new phenomenon in the global arena: environmental refugees.
These are people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homeland due to drought, soul erosion, deforestation, desertification and other environmental problems, together with associated problems of population pressures and profound poverty. In their desperation, these people feel they have no alternative but to seek sanctuary elsewhere. Not all of them will have fled their countries, many are being internally displaced. But all of them will have abandoned their homelands on a semi- permanent, if not permanent basis, with little hope of a foreseeable future.
The environmental refugees total has more than doubled since the 1990s. It is increasing rapidly as growing numbers of impoverished people press even harder on over- loaded environments. Povert serves as an additional push factor associated with the environmental problems displacing people. Other factors include population pressures, malnutrition, landlessness, unemployment, over-rapid urbanisation, pandemic diseases and inadequate government policies, combined with ethnic strife and conventional conflicts.
The issue of environmental refugees is bound to rank as one of the foremost human crisis of our times. To date, however, it has been viewed as a peripheral concern, a kind of aberration from the normal order of things - even though it is an outward manifestation of profound deprivation and despair. While it derived primarily from environmental problems, it generates myriad problems of political, social and economic sorts.
As such, it could readily become a cause of turmoil and confrontation, leading to conflict and violence. Yet as the problem becomes more pressing, our policy responses fall ever- further short of measuring up to the challenge. There is much scope for preventive policies, with the aim of reducing the need to migrate by ensuring an acceptable livelihoods in established homelands. We need to expand our approach to refugees in general in order to include environmental refugees in particular.
We cannot continue to ignore environmental refugees simply be dude there is no institutionalised mode of dealing with them. Secondly, we need to widen and deepen our understanding of environmental refugees by establishing the root causes of the problem - not only the environmental causes but associated problems, such as security concerns, plus the interplay of the two sets of forces. There can clearly be little progress except within an overall context of what has come to be known as Sustainable Development.
This applies notably to reliable access to food, water, energy, health and other basic human needs - lack of which is behind many environmental refugees' need to migrate. In big picture terms, sustainable development represents a sound way to pre- empt the environmental refugee issue in its full scope over the long run.
As a prime mode to tackle the issue, there would be a substantial payoff on investment to foster Sustainable Development in developing countries through greater policy emphasis on environmental safeguards, together with efforts to stem associated problems such as poverty, population and landlessness. Until now, the climate debate has focused on the basic science and the costs and benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That stage is now ending, with a resounding global consensus in the risk of climate change and the need for action. Attention will now increasingly be turning to the urgent challenge of adapting to the changes and helping those who are most affected.
Some hard- hit places will be salvaged by better infrastructure that protects against storm surges or economises on water for agriculture. Other will shift from agriculture to industry and services. Some places will be unable to adjust altogether, and populations will suffer and move. Economists, hydrologists, agronomists and climatologists will have to join forces to take the next steps in scientific understanding.
Recent report from Working Group II of the Inter- Governmental Panel on Climate Change tells us about the dramatic changes in the relationship between water and society. The massive shifts we are facing will include more frequent droughts, the melting of glaciers, changing seasonality of snowmelt, the loss of soil moisture under high temperatures, more intense precipitation and flooding, more powerful tropical cyclones etc. In combination with the human- induced depletion of groundwater sources by pumping and the extensive pollution of rivers and lakes, future mass migrations on an unprecedented scale seem unavoidable.
This is a devastating new phenomenon in the global arena: environmental refugees.
These are people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homeland due to drought, soul erosion, deforestation, desertification and other environmental problems, together with associated problems of population pressures and profound poverty. In their desperation, these people feel they have no alternative but to seek sanctuary elsewhere. Not all of them will have fled their countries, many are being internally displaced. But all of them will have abandoned their homelands on a semi- permanent, if not permanent basis, with little hope of a foreseeable future.
The environmental refugees total has more than doubled since the 1990s. It is increasing rapidly as growing numbers of impoverished people press even harder on over- loaded environments. Povert serves as an additional push factor associated with the environmental problems displacing people. Other factors include population pressures, malnutrition, landlessness, unemployment, over-rapid urbanisation, pandemic diseases and inadequate government policies, combined with ethnic strife and conventional conflicts.
The issue of environmental refugees is bound to rank as one of the foremost human crisis of our times. To date, however, it has been viewed as a peripheral concern, a kind of aberration from the normal order of things - even though it is an outward manifestation of profound deprivation and despair. While it derived primarily from environmental problems, it generates myriad problems of political, social and economic sorts.
As such, it could readily become a cause of turmoil and confrontation, leading to conflict and violence. Yet as the problem becomes more pressing, our policy responses fall ever- further short of measuring up to the challenge. There is much scope for preventive policies, with the aim of reducing the need to migrate by ensuring an acceptable livelihoods in established homelands. We need to expand our approach to refugees in general in order to include environmental refugees in particular.
We cannot continue to ignore environmental refugees simply be dude there is no institutionalised mode of dealing with them. Secondly, we need to widen and deepen our understanding of environmental refugees by establishing the root causes of the problem - not only the environmental causes but associated problems, such as security concerns, plus the interplay of the two sets of forces. There can clearly be little progress except within an overall context of what has come to be known as Sustainable Development.
This applies notably to reliable access to food, water, energy, health and other basic human needs - lack of which is behind many environmental refugees' need to migrate. In big picture terms, sustainable development represents a sound way to pre- empt the environmental refugee issue in its full scope over the long run.
As a prime mode to tackle the issue, there would be a substantial payoff on investment to foster Sustainable Development in developing countries through greater policy emphasis on environmental safeguards, together with efforts to stem associated problems such as poverty, population and landlessness. Until now, the climate debate has focused on the basic science and the costs and benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That stage is now ending, with a resounding global consensus in the risk of climate change and the need for action. Attention will now increasingly be turning to the urgent challenge of adapting to the changes and helping those who are most affected.
Some hard- hit places will be salvaged by better infrastructure that protects against storm surges or economises on water for agriculture. Other will shift from agriculture to industry and services. Some places will be unable to adjust altogether, and populations will suffer and move. Economists, hydrologists, agronomists and climatologists will have to join forces to take the next steps in scientific understanding.
CAMPAIGN FOR COMPASSIONATE LIVING
"The health of the planet and all the creatures on it depends on phasing out the lifestock farming and giving the vast acreages and resources thus released to trees. A future of our children depends on restoring the forests worldwide. "
Kathleen Jannaway
"The health of the planet and all the creatures on it depends on phasing out the lifestock farming and giving the vast acreages and resources thus released to trees. A future of our children depends on restoring the forests worldwide. "
Kathleen Jannaway
The aim of our campaign is to spread awareness of the factors that will achieve a sustainable lifestyle, free from destructive exploitation of animals, people and the Earth, to inspire necessary action and offer helpful ideas and tips for daily living. There is a widespread concern about the human population explosion, but few people realise that the Earth is having to support a second population explosion - that of the animals bred to satisfy outdated dietary habits. The Earth cannot continue to support this double burden.
Factory farmed animals are deprived of all significance as living beings, reduced to the status of food machines, they suffer painful and humiliating treatment and traumatic journeys to death in horrific conditions.
We are campaigning for livestock farming to be phased out and land and other resources used to produce plants for food. Farmed animals yield nothing that humans need that cannot be produced more efficiently and humanely directly from plant sources.
If everyone in the world ate a plant based diet, global food waste would be reduced and food economies were organised more intelligently and fairly, there would be enough food produced for everyone. We at SPF are promoting the growing of food for a vegan plant- based diet without the use of chemicals or animal products and additives. The production of food through sustainable methods of vegan organic horticulture and agriculture, including permaculture will reduce the on the planet's resources.
We strongly endorse and promote a healthy vegan diet based on crops grown in our home climate whenever possible, to reduce the environmental impact in terms of food miles and maximise the nutritional content of crops by ensuring they are eaten as quickly as possible after harvesting. We ask people to question their dietary habits and avoid purchasing foods that have been transported half way across the world.
There are at least 20.000 known species of food plants grown in the world, yet more than 90% of all plant foods come from less than 20 plant species. There needs to be more research into the range of food plants that can be grown in each climate zone.
If livestock farming were phased out globally, there would be more than adequate land for arable and horticultural crops, as well as the development of tree crops to meet a wife range of needs. More needs to be done to harness the massive potential of trees as a source of food and many other raw materials that can be used for clothing, shelter and energy. If animal farming were phased out, vast areas of land would be freed up for tree planting programmes.
Change must come: to direct it into sustainable channels will not be easy in view if the deep prejudices associated with eating habits. There is growing concern and sensitivity to the animal suffering which is reaching horrific levels in intensive units. We must be prepared to change our own lifestyles.
"REDUCING MEAT CONSUMPTION - THE CASE FOR URGENT REFORM"
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2008/g/global_benefits_summary.pdf
Factory farmed animals are deprived of all significance as living beings, reduced to the status of food machines, they suffer painful and humiliating treatment and traumatic journeys to death in horrific conditions.
We are campaigning for livestock farming to be phased out and land and other resources used to produce plants for food. Farmed animals yield nothing that humans need that cannot be produced more efficiently and humanely directly from plant sources.
If everyone in the world ate a plant based diet, global food waste would be reduced and food economies were organised more intelligently and fairly, there would be enough food produced for everyone. We at SPF are promoting the growing of food for a vegan plant- based diet without the use of chemicals or animal products and additives. The production of food through sustainable methods of vegan organic horticulture and agriculture, including permaculture will reduce the on the planet's resources.
We strongly endorse and promote a healthy vegan diet based on crops grown in our home climate whenever possible, to reduce the environmental impact in terms of food miles and maximise the nutritional content of crops by ensuring they are eaten as quickly as possible after harvesting. We ask people to question their dietary habits and avoid purchasing foods that have been transported half way across the world.
There are at least 20.000 known species of food plants grown in the world, yet more than 90% of all plant foods come from less than 20 plant species. There needs to be more research into the range of food plants that can be grown in each climate zone.
If livestock farming were phased out globally, there would be more than adequate land for arable and horticultural crops, as well as the development of tree crops to meet a wife range of needs. More needs to be done to harness the massive potential of trees as a source of food and many other raw materials that can be used for clothing, shelter and energy. If animal farming were phased out, vast areas of land would be freed up for tree planting programmes.
Change must come: to direct it into sustainable channels will not be easy in view if the deep prejudices associated with eating habits. There is growing concern and sensitivity to the animal suffering which is reaching horrific levels in intensive units. We must be prepared to change our own lifestyles.
"REDUCING MEAT CONSUMPTION - THE CASE FOR URGENT REFORM"
http://www.ciwf.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2008/g/global_benefits_summary.pdf
CAMPAIGNING FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES
As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, wildlife will be faced with ever greater challenges for their survival.
Polar bears already are suffering due to melting sea ice, desert animals are facing more and more severe droughts and sea creatures are forced to contend with the increasing acidification of their ocean environments.
It is essential that the funding be made available for protecting wildlife from the effects of global warming.
For example, the American Clean Energy and Security Act would have created a natural resources adaptation programme and dedicated funding stream. We strongly support programmes like this to assist wildlife in adapting to a warming world.
As the effects of climate change become more pronounced, wildlife will be faced with ever greater challenges for their survival.
Polar bears already are suffering due to melting sea ice, desert animals are facing more and more severe droughts and sea creatures are forced to contend with the increasing acidification of their ocean environments.
It is essential that the funding be made available for protecting wildlife from the effects of global warming.
For example, the American Clean Energy and Security Act would have created a natural resources adaptation programme and dedicated funding stream. We strongly support programmes like this to assist wildlife in adapting to a warming world.
CAMPAIGNING FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
We are campaigning for tribal peoples' rights worldwide. 150 million tribal people live in more than 60 countries across the world.
Although their land ownership rights are recognised in international law, they are not properly respected anywhere.
Our vision is for a world where tribal peoples are recognised and respected and a world where tribal peoples are free to live on their on lands, safe from violence, oppression and exploitation.
We believe that all countries must support and uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We also believe that all companies and organisations operating in tribal areas must adopt, as a formal and binding policy, the commitment that they will take no action without the free, prior and informed consent of the tribal people.
We stress that companies should not operate in tribal areas without first having clear, written, binding agreements, agreed only after the tribal people have obtained independent expert advice.
We are campaigning for tribal peoples' rights worldwide. 150 million tribal people live in more than 60 countries across the world.
Although their land ownership rights are recognised in international law, they are not properly respected anywhere.
Our vision is for a world where tribal peoples are recognised and respected and a world where tribal peoples are free to live on their on lands, safe from violence, oppression and exploitation.
We believe that all countries must support and uphold the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
We also believe that all companies and organisations operating in tribal areas must adopt, as a formal and binding policy, the commitment that they will take no action without the free, prior and informed consent of the tribal people.
We stress that companies should not operate in tribal areas without first having clear, written, binding agreements, agreed only after the tribal people have obtained independent expert advice.
RAINFOREST PROTECTION
Every year an area of rainforest the size of Wales and England is cut down.
This leaves people homeless, drives animals and plants to extinction and releases more CO2 emissions, which cause climate change, than all of the world's planes, trains and cars.
Tropical deforestation is an issue that affects all of us. It needs to be tackled locally and globally. Whilst some of our partners work locally by helping forest communities to gain land rights, challenging logging companies and managing forests, we campaign globally to influence national and international laws to protect rainforests and their inhabitants.
The best way to protect the rainforests is to let the indigenous people, who have inhabited the areas for centuries, control and manage the land. Education and lobbying, based on local experience, can provide the most effective tools for lasting change.
Every year an area of rainforest the size of Wales and England is cut down.
This leaves people homeless, drives animals and plants to extinction and releases more CO2 emissions, which cause climate change, than all of the world's planes, trains and cars.
Tropical deforestation is an issue that affects all of us. It needs to be tackled locally and globally. Whilst some of our partners work locally by helping forest communities to gain land rights, challenging logging companies and managing forests, we campaign globally to influence national and international laws to protect rainforests and their inhabitants.
The best way to protect the rainforests is to let the indigenous people, who have inhabited the areas for centuries, control and manage the land. Education and lobbying, based on local experience, can provide the most effective tools for lasting change.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
Addressing the challenge of global food security through the twenty first century is linked with other global issues, most notably climate change, population growth and the need to sustainably manage the world's rapidly growing demand for energy and water. Global progress in ensuring a sustainable and equitable food supply chain will be determined by how coherently these long term challenges are tackled.
This will also determine our progress in reducing global poverty and achieving the Millenium Development Goals. The challenge is to deliver nutritious, safe and affordable food to a global population of over 9 billion in coming decades, using less land, fewer inputs, with less waste and a lower environmental impact. It is clear that research is vital to meeting this challenge.
All this has to be done in ways that are socially and economically sustainable.
Global food security is fast becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing states today. The scope and the breadth of the issue encompasses all the peoples and the governments of the world and demography is the driving factor pushing it to the top of the agenda.
The human population is set to surpass the 9 billion mark midway through the century, with the attendant cost of ever greater pressure applied to the Earth's finite resources. The World Bank has predicted that wheat production will have to increase by 50% and meat production by 85% over the next 20 years if we are to meet the demand.
The challenge facing us is to be able to feed the great mass of humanity in a sustainable manner and one that does not threaten the precarious balance of our ecosystems. Climate change is the other defining source of stress with its manifold repercussions upon water access and supply, the spread of pests and disease and the potential for ever more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns.
The UN estimated that almost one billion people are chronically hungry and malnourished in the world and over 6 million children die each year due to starvation. At the same time around 1 billion people around the world are suffering from obesity. Judging by current trends this number is set to rise in the near future.
Recent climactic developments have also given both humanitarians and policy-makers alike more serious cause for concern.
At a time when the recession is biting in many parts of the world, and where booming populations have already made food scarce and prices high, this crisis could have extremely severe humanitarian, and indeed strategic, implications. Global food security is, obviously, one of the key issues for the future of humanity, along with water, climate, and peace and security.
The UN has a commitment to supporting governments as they work towards the millenium development goals (MDG) that were agreed in 2000. and that require us all to achieve some significant outcomes by 2015. The first of these goals is to halve the number of people living in hunger from 860 million to 500 million, but it looks as though by 2015. we will be looking at 1 billion living in hunger.
If we look globally, the situation around poverty and hunger seems to be similar around the globe. We have resistant poverty in sub- Saharan Africa - similar figures to 1990. In South Asia we have achieved reductions in the percentage that are poor, but given that there are so many people living in South Asia, the numbers are still very high.
Poverty in Sub- Saharan Africa has proven itself to be very resilient and hunger has remained very high, with 25% of the population hungry at any time. According to our research, there are still 29 countries across the globe where levels of malnutrition are very alarming.
There is a pressing need to ensure adequate nutrition, including not only calories but all necessary macro and micro nutrients for healthy and balanced diets and for populations throughout the world.
At the same time as increasing numbers of people globally are inadequately fed, the over- consumption of high calorie diets adds to the rising demand for food, with all the associated economic, social and environmental impacts.
The most important challenges arising are:
*The world will need to produce more food in the future using less water, land, fertiliser, energy and other inputs, and distribute that food more efficiently and equitably.
*There is a need to reduce losses and waste, greenhouse gas emissions and other adverse environmental impacts - throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption and waste management.
*Food must be safe, nutritious and affordable, and be supplied and distributed in ways that meet the needs and aspirations of consumers in different economic, social and cultural contexts around the world. People need to be well informed and helped to make healthy choices.
*There is a need to balance different uses of land and seas, often with competing priorities, such as sustainably increasing food production while maintaining ecosystem services on which food production critically depends.
*There is an urgent priority to balance increased productivity from food producing animals with their welfare, recognising that absence of disease and high productivity do not always equate with high welfare standards and outcomes.
*The complex and interrelated problems outlined above can only be tackled through coordinated and integrated interdisciplinary research, coupled with its effective translation into practice and policy.
*Our aim is to help to improve the sustainability and security of UK and global food supplies.
*The challenges range from those with a local or UK national focus to more wide-ranging European and global issues. Food security for the UK is inextricably linked to global production, demand and supply and must be considered in this broader context.
*We are highlighting the key need for UK research in helping to address the global challenges, especially those of developing countries.
Addressing the challenge of global food security through the twenty first century is linked with other global issues, most notably climate change, population growth and the need to sustainably manage the world's rapidly growing demand for energy and water. Global progress in ensuring a sustainable and equitable food supply chain will be determined by how coherently these long term challenges are tackled.
This will also determine our progress in reducing global poverty and achieving the Millenium Development Goals. The challenge is to deliver nutritious, safe and affordable food to a global population of over 9 billion in coming decades, using less land, fewer inputs, with less waste and a lower environmental impact. It is clear that research is vital to meeting this challenge.
All this has to be done in ways that are socially and economically sustainable.
Global food security is fast becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing states today. The scope and the breadth of the issue encompasses all the peoples and the governments of the world and demography is the driving factor pushing it to the top of the agenda.
The human population is set to surpass the 9 billion mark midway through the century, with the attendant cost of ever greater pressure applied to the Earth's finite resources. The World Bank has predicted that wheat production will have to increase by 50% and meat production by 85% over the next 20 years if we are to meet the demand.
The challenge facing us is to be able to feed the great mass of humanity in a sustainable manner and one that does not threaten the precarious balance of our ecosystems. Climate change is the other defining source of stress with its manifold repercussions upon water access and supply, the spread of pests and disease and the potential for ever more extreme and unpredictable weather patterns.
The UN estimated that almost one billion people are chronically hungry and malnourished in the world and over 6 million children die each year due to starvation. At the same time around 1 billion people around the world are suffering from obesity. Judging by current trends this number is set to rise in the near future.
Recent climactic developments have also given both humanitarians and policy-makers alike more serious cause for concern.
At a time when the recession is biting in many parts of the world, and where booming populations have already made food scarce and prices high, this crisis could have extremely severe humanitarian, and indeed strategic, implications. Global food security is, obviously, one of the key issues for the future of humanity, along with water, climate, and peace and security.
The UN has a commitment to supporting governments as they work towards the millenium development goals (MDG) that were agreed in 2000. and that require us all to achieve some significant outcomes by 2015. The first of these goals is to halve the number of people living in hunger from 860 million to 500 million, but it looks as though by 2015. we will be looking at 1 billion living in hunger.
If we look globally, the situation around poverty and hunger seems to be similar around the globe. We have resistant poverty in sub- Saharan Africa - similar figures to 1990. In South Asia we have achieved reductions in the percentage that are poor, but given that there are so many people living in South Asia, the numbers are still very high.
Poverty in Sub- Saharan Africa has proven itself to be very resilient and hunger has remained very high, with 25% of the population hungry at any time. According to our research, there are still 29 countries across the globe where levels of malnutrition are very alarming.
There is a pressing need to ensure adequate nutrition, including not only calories but all necessary macro and micro nutrients for healthy and balanced diets and for populations throughout the world.
At the same time as increasing numbers of people globally are inadequately fed, the over- consumption of high calorie diets adds to the rising demand for food, with all the associated economic, social and environmental impacts.
The most important challenges arising are:
*The world will need to produce more food in the future using less water, land, fertiliser, energy and other inputs, and distribute that food more efficiently and equitably.
*There is a need to reduce losses and waste, greenhouse gas emissions and other adverse environmental impacts - throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption and waste management.
*Food must be safe, nutritious and affordable, and be supplied and distributed in ways that meet the needs and aspirations of consumers in different economic, social and cultural contexts around the world. People need to be well informed and helped to make healthy choices.
*There is a need to balance different uses of land and seas, often with competing priorities, such as sustainably increasing food production while maintaining ecosystem services on which food production critically depends.
*There is an urgent priority to balance increased productivity from food producing animals with their welfare, recognising that absence of disease and high productivity do not always equate with high welfare standards and outcomes.
*The complex and interrelated problems outlined above can only be tackled through coordinated and integrated interdisciplinary research, coupled with its effective translation into practice and policy.
*Our aim is to help to improve the sustainability and security of UK and global food supplies.
*The challenges range from those with a local or UK national focus to more wide-ranging European and global issues. Food security for the UK is inextricably linked to global production, demand and supply and must be considered in this broader context.
*We are highlighting the key need for UK research in helping to address the global challenges, especially those of developing countries.
GM FOOD
We all have the right to eat and plant GM-free food.
We at Sustainable Planet Foundation are fighting to protect your choices from corporate interests to secure safe, sustainable agriculture for all. We are calling for a moratorium on GM food and crops until it is clearly and independently proven safe. We are looking for public involvement in decisions about GM, laws to make GM companies liable for harm their products cause and independent safety research on GM and its impacts.
We all have the right to eat and plant GM-free food.
We at Sustainable Planet Foundation are fighting to protect your choices from corporate interests to secure safe, sustainable agriculture for all. We are calling for a moratorium on GM food and crops until it is clearly and independently proven safe. We are looking for public involvement in decisions about GM, laws to make GM companies liable for harm their products cause and independent safety research on GM and its impacts.
