Can we feed the world
 by 2050?

By Professor Judy Buttriss

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Genetically modified food Nutrition

The world’s population had doubled to 6bn by the end of the last century. Global food shortages were predicted but averted. But can the food chain meet the challenge of feeding 9bn mouths by 2050? And will genetic modification technology have a place at the table?

The recent European Commission proposal to allow Member States to decide on the level of cultivation of approved crops on their soil has paved the way for more genetically modified food in Europe, but few believe that the potential for increased yields will provide a complete solution.

Recent nutrition policy has been driven by concerns about saturated fat and salt, chronic disease and energy balance, and this has inevitably impacted on the food industry. In this scenario it is easy to overlook essential vitamins and minerals. Many in the UK have inadequate intakes of some of these and, importantly, the foods in the spotlight in the sustainable diets debate milk, meat and fish are key sources of a number of these nutrients. Knee-jerk changes to our diet could prove counterproductive.

Later this year, a white paper is expected to set out a new public health strategy. A promised feature of its delivery is the Responsibility Deal: a concept heralded to bring together government, business and charities to promote innovation in thinking and practice, built on social responsibility rather than State regulation.

BNF's Food a fact of life education program​ is a successful public, private, charity sector partnership. It began with government funding in the 1980s and has since been co-funded through BNF's charitable work, project grants from the food sector and other charities, such as The All Saints Educational Trust.

BNF looks forward to opportunities to build on this successful approach.

Professor Judy Buttriss is director general of the British Nutrition Foundation

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