Britain launches first major food plan in 60 years

BRITAIN’S first major food strategy for 60 years, which Environment Secretary Hilary Benn will launch at the Oxford Farming Conference today, will call for a sea change in the way people think about farming.

Rising to the Challenge is the theme of the conference, which will explore how farmers can respond to the immense agricultural challenge of feeding a world population of 9 billion by 2050 with minimal environmental impact.

The British Government strategy, which will set out its food plans for the next 20 years, will warn that agriculture must brace itself for sudden shocks, including natural disasters, volatile commodity prices and uncertain fuel supplies.