Time 4:15pm

Chair: Alex Renton

Panel: Zac Goldsmith, Patrick Holden, Director Soil Association, Raymond Blanc, Paul Kelly, Asda Walmart, Mark Barthel,WRAP Special Advisor

A perfect storm of climate change, diminishing water and soil resources, peak oil and population growth?

A recent report from the International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) concluded that “business as usual was not an option” and in a significant shift from previous reports, the latest International Energy Agency projections “expects that (conventional oil production) will come around 2020 to a plateau as well, which is, of course, not good news from a global-oil-supply point of view”.

These combined threats are creating an unprecedented challenge for nations of the world to develop plans for the future of our food but what are the ingredients that should be considered in such a plan? Many people believe that intensive farming systems that are so reliant on chemicals and fossil fuels have been failing for decades, exacting a terrible toll on soil, water and biodiversity. But with a significantly growing world population is it realistic to expect agro-ecological or organic farming methods to feed the world? What part should GM and technology play in providing the answers to this urgent issue?

There are enormous challenges involved in making what could be fundamental changes to our global food systems. What should we do about it?

What should we be expecting from our elected government and more particularly from food manufacturers and retailers who have been cashing in on the current systems for so long?

These issues will be explored by our panel in an effort to discover what the future might hold for us in a world where food security becomes one of the key issues facing us all.