Food, sustainability and biodiversity... What s the issue?

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Suzan McDonald
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1 Food, sustainability and biodiversity... What s the issue?

7bn people live on less than 1/day; by 1 per day, most hunger problems are solved, but not malnutrition 80% of people in India & 92% in Nigeria live on < 1 Between 1 & 5/day people eat

2 ...and the answer is: Food Security 1.1bn people live on less than 50p/day; 854 million of them suffer under nutrition and hunger (calorie deficit) 10% of people in China & 41% in Bangladesh live on <50p 2.7bn people live on less than 1/day; by 1 per day, most hunger problems are solved, but not malnutrition 80% of people in India & 92% in Nigeria live on < 1 Between 1 & 5/day people eat more meat & dairy products, causing rapid growth in demand for raw agricultural commodities After incomes rise to 5 per day, people buy more processing, services, packaging, and luxury foods In the UK Defra is telling us that food security is the overriding driver for future UK agricultural policy, but is also saying that we must find ways to do it sustainably

Temperatures are rising... www.defra.gov.

3 Temperatures are rising... Observed temperatures Simulated temperatures We are already committed to this from past emissions s 2060s Source Met Office Hadley Centre 3

4 Population is rising... Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision (medium scenario), Downloaded from

5 Urbansation is rising... Region World Africa Asia Europe Lat. America/Carib North America Oceania Source: World Bank's annual World Development Report (WDR) 2008

6 Resource use is rising...

7 Arable land is finite 3% of the Earth s surface grows food crops for more than 6 billion people (rising to 9 Billion by 2050). If this apple was the earth this square would be the land available for non GM crops

8 Have crop yields plateaued?... Wheat grain yield (t/ha) liming fungicides fallowing herbicides 1st wheat in rotation Continuous wheat Semi-dwarf varieties Unmanured, continuous wheat Source: Rothamsted

...could Organic agriculture fill the gap? Article by K.W.T. Goulding (1) and A.J.

org (1 Department of Soil Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden; Herts AL5 2JQ; 2 Institute of

) Two quotes below from the article: Figures from Elm Farm Research Centre, the primary organic

data on many farms) is c. 4 tonnes/ha but averages are c.

9 ...could Organic agriculture fill the gap? Article by K.W.T. Goulding (1) and A.J. Trewavas (2), AgBioView, June 23, (1 Department of Soil Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden; Herts AL5 2JQ; 2 Institute of Molecular Plant Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3 JH., Scotland.) Two quotes below from the article: Figures from Elm Farm Research Centre, the primary organic research institute in the UK, indicate that the average UK organic winter wheat yield (assessed from data on many farms) is c. 4 tonnes/ha but averages are c. 8 tonnes/ha for conventional agriculture; a yield ratio of 0.5 Record conventional wheat yields are c tonnes/ha. Occasionally organic yields have reached 7 tonnes/ha; again suggesting an organic/conventional yield ratio of 0.5.

10 ...increasing competition for energy 900 IEA Historical and Projected Primary Energy Consumption Quadrillion Btu OECD Non-OECD World Total Year Source: International Energy Agency

Directive 2003-set target for biofuels to 5.

11 ...increasing areas of biofuels Several policy drivers are already in place: Sustainability Decreased GHG emissions from transport sector Decreased Dependence on Fossil Fuels Increased Energy Security EU & US Legislation EU Biofuels Directive 2003-set target for biofuels to 5.75% by 2010 Draft EU 2020 Renewables Directive-Sets target of 10% biofuels by 2020 US Energy Act 2007 mandated 30 billion IGs of biofuels by 2022 UK Legislation -Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)

12 Is this an acceptable outcome of fuelling the w

13 Food production is increasingly coming at the expense of biodiversity... 97% of UK herb rich meadows lost since % decline in UK farmland birds since % decline in UK bumblebees since 1970

14 UK Farmland birds are in freefall... Source: Defra November

15 ... are we heading for a second Silent Spring - a global countryside bereft of biodiversity?...

Although in the UK it only makes up 10% of

....so how can farmers protect (let alone enhance)

16 Although in the UK it only makes up 10% of household expenditure, consumers still demand cheap food......so supermarkets are reducing prices......so buyers are squeezing producers.....so how can farmers protect (let alone enhance) biodiversity? Answer: they can t...unless we adopt the right business models!

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) The commitment to the TEEB project emerged

analyse the global economic benefit of biological diversity The project is structured around

biodiversity and ecosystem services TEEB reports will be published consecutively between

.. The final TEEB position will be presented at the Convention on Biological Diversity this

17 The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) The commitment to the TEEB project emerged as part of the Potsdam Initiative, proposed by the German government in March 2007 to G8+5; to analyse the global economic benefit of biological diversity The project is structured around several reports targeted towards specific groups of potential users of evaluation tools for biodiversity and ecosystem services TEEB reports will be published consecutively between autumn 2009 and autumn 2010 (D1 published 13 th Nov 2009)... The final TEEB position will be presented at the Convention on Biological Diversity this year and provide guidance for the development of international policy and therefore the markets where food and agricultural businesses operate

18 Consumer attitudes Defra Survey Strongly agree Tend to agree Neither agree nor disagree Tend to disagree Strongly disagree Don t know If government did more to tackle climate change I'd do more I need more information on what I could do to be more environmentally friendly % I would be prepared to pay more for environmentally friendly products % Being green is an alternative lifestyle its not for the majority % 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

.only 30% of respondents disagreed with this.

19 Consumer attitudes Defra Survey The biggest change between 2007 & 2009 surveys can be seen in the response to being green is an alternative lifestyle, its not for the majority In only 30% of respondents disagreed with this. By 2009 that has risen to 51% So, in the UK at least, in the depths of the worst recession for 60 years, being green is now for the majority.

20 Development of Conservation Grade Set up in 1985 by Jordans & farmers who wanted to grow food in a safer and more environmentally friendly way Originally based on agrochemical prohibition, but during late 1990s, it became obvious that the key agricultural issue was biodiversity decline caused by farmland habitat loss So in 2003 a new scheme was designed based on 5 years of independently verified science Conservation Grade 2 was launched in 2004 (for harvest 2005) that now delivers: Scientifically proven wildlife increase Unique and marketable advantage The relevance of Conservation Grade is constantly reviewed and in 2009 carbon footprinting and sustainable biofuel options were introduced. Conservation Grade s 25 th Anniversary coincides with the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010 Jordans were joined in late 2009 by several new CGaccredited brands, including Allinsons and Vitacress, who are due to launch in CG has a unique, long term and consumer driven understanding of sustainability in conventional farming.

22 The Conservation Grade formula enables biodiversity and modern farming to coexist 4% Pollen & Nectar 2% Bird/Small Mammal Food 2% Tussock & Fine Grass 2% Other Habitats

23 Some of the science behind Conservation Grade

BUTTERFLIES BUMBLEBEES BEETLES AND SPIDERS

identified taxa = 1,987species Source: The

24 Proven delivery: Conservation Grade biodiversity increases MAMMALS BIRDS BUTTERFLIES BUMBLEBEES BEETLES AND SPIDERS PLANTS Thirtyfold in some habitats (Water Vole, Brown Hare, Bats) Up 41% and new species Eightfold (22 species) Thirteen fold Up to one hundredfold Significant increase especially rarer annuals Total identified taxa = 1,987species Source: The Manor Farm Project, evaluated by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH)

Conservation Grade in a nutshell Proven biodiversity delivery The highest standards of food safety Recognised by leading environmental organisations and opinion formers Backed by independent research

25 Conservation Grade in a nutshell Proven biodiversity delivery The highest standards of food safety Recognised by leading environmental organisations and opinion formers Backed by independent research A fair price to farmers and secure, high quality produce for manufacturers; congruent with ES Brand value and differentiation Maintenance of yields and optimisation of productivity So, the CG formula for sustainable food security is: CG+NFF=FS² (Conservation Grade + Nature Friendly Farming = Food Security Squared)

26 CONSERVATION GRADE...means Nature Friendly food

Challenges Facing the Food & Agricultural Sector

Challenges Facing the Food & Agricultural Sector Robert L. Thompson Gardner Endowed Chair in Agricultural Policy University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 15 October 2007 Projected Population Growth (U.N.