Why people make different choices about food and farming?

Pete Riley

What drives change in food and farming?

• The public?• Technology?• Governments and

politicians?• Climate change?• Regulations?• Retailers?• Industry?• Environmental protection?

• The needs of future generations?

• Economic growth?• Food security?• Competition?• Farm gates prices?• Food safety?• The media?• Necessity?

What were the influences in 1980s?

• CAP policy.• High prices for some.• Low prices for others.• Agricultural chemistry.• Public opinion.• Government – research to near market.• Food safety – pesticides, salmonella and BSE.• Environmental protection.• Regulation.

What are the influences in 2012?• CAP policy.• Retail power.• New markets.• Global markets and prices (low for some high for others)• Speculation.• Biofuels.• Agricultural biotechnology /synbiology• Agricultural chemistry.• Soya.• Agroecology and organic methods.• Environmental protection/climate change/regulation.• Consumer power/ choice.• Patenting/ monopoly.• Animal welfare.• Food safety/regulation

What should influence change in 2012 and beyond- a politician’s view

• Food exports.• Prices.• Low inflation.• Feeding the world/food security.• Global trade.• White heat of technology and innovation.• Sustainable intensification.• Intellectual property rights.• Climate change adaptation and mitigation.• Efficiency. • Hot potatoes.

What should influence change in 2012 and beyond – industry view

• Innovation and new products.• Light regulation.• IPR and patents.• Prices.• Shareholder value.• Increasing sales and market share.• Adaptation and mitigation of climate change.• Biotechnology, nanotechnology and synthetic biology.• Sustainable intensification.• Efficiency of production.• Globalisation.

What should influence changes in 2012 -scientist’s view

Product orientated • Patents and IPR.• Markets/sales led.• Biotechnology, nanotech

and synthetic biology.• Sustainable intensification.

System orientated• Agroecology led.• Extension services.• Farmer led research.• Appropriate technology to

enhance natural systems.

What should influence changes in 2012 and beyond – a farmer’s view• Profitability/ farm gate prices.• Markets.• Re-balancing of market power.• Innovation and research.• New technology.• Choice.• Continuity/ family/inheritance.• Responding to demand.• Custodians of the countryside.• Rural employment.• Diversify incomes.

• Lighter regulation/CAP.

What should influence change in 2012 – consumer’s view

• Clear choice.• Affordability.• Food safety.• Nutrition.• Health.• Animal welfare.• Environment/biodiversity.• Fairness for consumers and farmers.• Local.• Hunger/malnutrition.

What should influence change in 2012- Pete’s list

• Maintenance of biodiversity.• Soil health and quality.• Water conservation and efficiency.• Farm gate prices.• Power shift to farmers and consumers.• Fossil fuel dependency.• Agricultural biodiversity- plants and animals.• Animal welfare.• Rural employment and vibrant economy.• Dependence non-renewable resources.• Environmental protection –air, ground/ freshwater, marine.• Providing an wholesome diet at a price that is affordable to all.• Public health.• Appropriate technology and R&D.• Food sovereignity.• Consumer/farmer choice.

Food Sovereignity

Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food

produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define

their own food and agriculture systems.

Global Limits

Agriculture’s Influence of Ten Global limits

• Climate change. • Ocean acidification. • Stratospheric ozone depletion. • Nitrogen cycle. • Phosphorus cycle. • Global freshwater use. • Changes in land use. • Biodiversity loss. • Atmospheric aerosol loading. ?• Chemical pollution?