While government espoused the idea of food security, funding cuts threatened work at institutes such as Warwick Horticulture Research International and Rothamstead Research, delegates heard at last month's Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum seminar on Food security, innovation and research in London.

Michael Winter, professor and director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research at Exeter University, said funding should prioritise studies with practical applications. He called for more co-ordination: "We have a horrendously complex system of governance for research.

"We have the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, say, funding research; we have research councils. We still have a lot funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, so I think we have to review research governance arrangements to make sure that those things are joined up in a better way."

However, speakers acknowledged some progress. Steve Visscher, deputy chief executive and chief operating officer of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), said: "The UK government Food Research and Innovation Strategy has been important in helping to galvanise public sector funders."

During times of economic hardship, creating "a culture that rewards and incentivises working with others and sharing facilities", was crucial to maintain research priorities, said Visscher.