The UK’s new strategy for food security
The UK government has recently announced its new strategy for food security, which aims to use technology and innovation to address the challenges of climate change, poverty and inequality. The strategy, titled Food Systems Transformation: A UK Vision, outlines how the UK will support the global transition to more sustainable and resilient food systems by 2030.
The strategy is based on four pillars:
- Investing in research and innovation to develop and scale up solutions that can improve food production, distribution and consumption, such as precision agriculture, biotechnology and digital platforms.
- Promoting trade and investment to create opportunities for farmers and businesses in developing countries, and to ensure that food standards and regulations are aligned with environmental and social goals.
- Supporting humanitarian and development assistance to address the immediate and long-term needs of the most vulnerable people, especially in conflict-affected and fragile states, and to build their capacity to cope with shocks and stresses.
- Advocating for global action and leadership to mobilize political will and resources, and to foster collaboration and coordination among different actors and sectors.
The UK’s strategy is aligned with the UN Food Systems Summit, which will take place in September 2023, and aims to transform the way the world produces and consumes food. The summit will bring together governments, civil society, private sector, academia and other stakeholders to agree on a set of actions and commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The benefits and challenges of technology for food security
The UK’s strategy highlights the potential of technology and innovation to address the complex and interrelated challenges of food security, such as:
- Increasing productivity and efficiency of food systems, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where smallholder farmers face multiple constraints such as lack of access to inputs, markets, finance, information and extension services.
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts of food systems, such as land degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss and pollution, by adopting practices and technologies that can enhance soil health, water management, crop diversification, waste reduction and circular economy.
- Improving nutrition and health of consumers, especially in urban areas, where diets are often high in calories, fats, sugars and salt, and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, by developing and promoting foods that are more nutritious, diverse, affordable and safe.
- Empowering women and youth in food systems, who often face discrimination, marginalization and violence, by providing them with skills, opportunities and voice, and by addressing the social and cultural norms that limit their participation and decision-making.
However, the UK’s strategy also acknowledges the challenges and risks of technology and innovation for food security, such as:
- Exacerbating inequalities and power imbalances in food systems, especially between developed and developing countries, and between large and small actors, by creating winners and losers, and by reinforcing existing barriers and biases.
- Disrupting livelihoods and social structures in food systems, especially in rural areas, where millions of people depend on agriculture for their income and identity, by displacing workers, changing roles and relations, and undermining traditions and cultures.
- Increasing vulnerabilities and dependencies in food systems, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, where food systems are already under stress, by introducing new threats and uncertainties, and by reducing local control and ownership.
The reactions and responses of critics and supporters
The UK’s strategy has received mixed reactions and responses from different stakeholders and experts, who have expressed their views and opinions on the benefits and challenges of technology and innovation for food security.
Some critics have argued that the UK’s strategy is too optimistic and naive about the role of technology and innovation in solving the global hunger crisis, and that it ignores the root causes of the problem, such as poverty, inequality, conflict and corruption. They have also claimed that the UK’s strategy is driven by self-interest and profit rather than by genuine concern and solidarity, and that it imposes a top-down and one-size-fits-all approach that does not respect the diversity and complexity of local contexts and needs.
For example, Tim Lang, professor of food policy at City, University of London, said that the UK’s strategy is “a techno-optimist fantasy” that “sidesteps the real issues of power, politics and economics that shape food systems”. He added that the UK’s strategy is “a thinly disguised attempt to promote British interests and influence in a post-Brexit world” and that it “fails to address the fundamental question of who controls food systems and for what purpose”.
Similarly, Raj Patel, research professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, said that the UK’s strategy is “a recipe for disaster” that “ignores the fact that hunger is not a technical problem but a political one”. He argued that the UK’s strategy is “a way of exporting the British model of industrial agriculture and food processing to the rest of the world” and that it “undermines the rights and sovereignty of local communities and farmers”.
On the other hand, some supporters have praised the UK’s strategy as a bold and visionary initiative that recognizes the urgency and complexity of the global hunger crisis, and that leverages the opportunities and advantages of technology and innovation for food security. They have also defended the UK’s strategy as based on evidence and experience rather than on ideology and speculation, and as fostering a participatory and inclusive approach that engages and empowers different actors and sectors.
For instance, Agnes Kalibata, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy for the Food Systems Summit, said that the UK’s strategy is “a welcome and timely contribution” that “reflects the ambition and aspiration of the summit”. She said that the UK’s strategy is “a clear demonstration of the UK’s leadership and commitment to transforming food systems for the benefit of people and the planet”. She also said that the UK’s strategy is “a call for action and collaboration” that “invites and inspires others to join and support the global movement for food systems transformation”.
Likewise, Lawrence Haddad, executive director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and co-winner of the 2018 World Food Prize, said that the UK’s strategy is “a comprehensive and coherent framework” that “addresses the multiple dimensions and challenges of food security”. He said that the UK’s strategy is “based on sound science and best practice” and that it “draws on the UK’s strengths and expertise in research, innovation, trade, development and diplomacy”. He also said that the UK’s strategy is “a model of partnership and dialogue” that “respects and responds to the needs and priorities of different countries and regions”.
The implications and prospects of the UK’s strategy for the future of food security
The UK’s strategy for food security is a significant and influential document that has the potential to shape the future of food systems and to affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world. The strategy sets out the UK’s vision, goals, principles and actions for the next decade, and provides a roadmap and a reference for other countries and stakeholders to follow and learn from.
The strategy also raises important and relevant questions and debates about the role and impact of technology and innovation for food security, and about the opportunities and challenges that they entail. The strategy invites and encourages different perspectives and voices to engage and contribute to the global conversation and action on food systems transformation.
The success and effectiveness of the UK’s strategy will depend on several factors, such as:
- The alignment and coordination of the UK’s strategy with other national, regional and global initiatives and frameworks, such as the UN Food Systems Summit, the COP26, the G7 and the G20, and the Agenda 2030.
- The allocation and mobilization of adequate and sustainable resources and capacities, both financial and human, to implement and monitor the UK’s strategy, and to ensure its accountability and transparency.
- The adaptation and innovation of the UK’s strategy to the changing and diverse contexts and realities of different countries and regions, and to the emerging and unforeseen challenges and opportunities of the future.
The UK’s strategy for food security is a bold and visionary initiative that aims to use technology and innovation to address the challenges of climate change, poverty and inequality. The strategy faces criticism and praise from different stakeholders and experts, who have different views and opinions on the benefits and challenges of technology and innovation for food security. The strategy has the potential to shape the future of food systems and to affect the lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world.
