The Big Food Challenge: Affordability, security & sustainability
At European Food and Farming Partnership's (EFFP) annual conference, Senior Partner Siôn Roberts said that the dramatic economic events that had unfolded in Europe in recent weeks had made an already challenging situation for UK household incomes even more precarious.
With food prices some 30% higher today than before the recession in 2008 consumers were facing a food affordability challenge not seen in many years. He said that anti-corporate protestors camped near St Pauls Cathedral had summed up the challenge in one slogan: "share the lolly, I can't fill my shopping trolley!”
Mr Roberts warned the 350 strong audience representing the length and breadth of the food chain that the factors causing food prices to rise were not one off events. “The food industry has reached a cross roads where a business's bottom line must factor in both social and environmental performance alongside the fundamental need of achieving sound financial returns."
"We're faced with three major issues in food: it is becoming less affordable, less secure and less sustainable," he explained.
"Whether we like it or not every single one of us is going to have to find a way to meet the growing challenges of the current economic climate whilst also addressing the issue of long term sustainability. The time and investment needed in new technologies, new factories and new ways of working requires food companies and farmers work collaboratively to deliver the solutions that are now being demanded.”
The EFFP Conference was held at London's St Pancras Renaissance Hotel.
Date of issue: 08/11/11