More research needed to double food production

COUNTRY landowners have welcomed the call by MPs to double food production by 2050 – but say that more investment and research are needed if such an ambitious target is to be met.

Until last year, the government was regularly accused of being more interested in environmental concerns in the countryside rather than food production. But then an international food shortage – causing riots in several Third World countries – brought a sudden change in Westminster thinking.

With the UK population expected to top 70 million in the next few decades – mainly due to immigration, say critics – the country could soon be facing severe food shortages so on Tuesday, the parliamentary environment, food and rural affairs select committee called for farm production to be doubled by 2050.

Yesterday, the Country Land and Business Association welcomed the committee’s report – but insisted that more investment and research are needed if such an ambitious target is to be met.

CLA President Henry Aubrey-Fletcher commented: “We need a step change in the way we produce our food and renewable energy at the same time as we reduce biodiversity loss, soil erosion, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

“This requires a new approach to precision land management. However it is not clear that Defra or the EFRA committee have appreciated the full scale of resources it will require to deliver the twin objectives.”