Food and agriculture should be prioritised in the UK Department of International Development’s (DfID) plans to tackle global poverty, a new report into food security has recommended. Citing from the World Bank, the ‘Why No Thought for Food?’ study reveals that economic growth from agriculture generates twice as much poverty reduction than any other sector.

The All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development produced the inquiry into the UK’s role in global food security in a reaction to what they felt was ‘a continued neglect of agriculture and food security’ by DfID. The APPG received 130 written submissions and spoke directly with 29 of the world’s leading industry experts, including Jacques Diouf, the Director-General of the UN FAO and Sir David King the former UK Government Chief Scientist. Expressing their concern for food security in the 21^st century, the report cited the following realities affecting agriculture: 

• Hunger – The world’s hungry increased by over 100 million in 2009, due to the impact of the economic crisis and rising food prices – now 1 billion are suffering from hunger worldwide.
• Population – Africa’s population alone is to double from 1 billion to 2 billion by 2050, which requires for food production to double.
• Climate Change – The western and southern regions of Africa are expected to experience both large global warming (up to 10°C) as well as a decrease in rainfall of up to 20% in some areas.

For Africa, climate change is fundamentally about agriculture. This is where 70% of the poorest individuals find their livelihoods.

• Water – Poor water supply is a threat to agriculture, which uses approximately 70% of global resources.  As population increases, water demand is estimated to increase by over 30% by 2030 and energy by 50%.
• Farmer welfare – Agriculture cannot stand alone but needs a cross-sector approach which incorporates enhancing farmer health to increase productivity.

Focusing on donor neglect, the report quotes that an additional annual contribution of $2.9 billion to agricultural research and development by 2013 would lift 144 million out of absolute poverty by 2020.

If we react to the challenge of having to produce more food without taking into account the social and environmental dimensions, we will fail – Olivier de Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food.

The APPG offers three main recommendations for the UK’s involvement in agricultural development:

1. Re-establish agriculture and food security at the centre of DfID’s ‘Fight Against Poverty’ programme, with at least 10% of its overseas aid budget going to agriculture.
2. Re-focus on agricultural education and extension to farmers in the developing world.
3. Legislate for change to ensure policy makers promote the right to food on both domestic and international levels.