Last Wednesday I was in Brussels at the Second Forum for the Future of Agriculture (FFA) as a guest of Syngenta, who was one of the principle sponsors. The theme was “Financing and governing food and environmental security - the new challenge.”
It was a long and interesting day, with many eminent speakers. Experts included Paul Krugman (Professor of Economics & International affairs, Princeton University), Franz Fischler (former EU Agriculture Commissioner), Marianne Fischer-Boel (EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development) and John Atkin (COO Syngenta) were all part of an impressive lineup of leading speakers from EU institutions, European Governments, Industry, NGOs and organizations including the FAO and OECD who attended the event.
It was clear that everyone now sees the enormity of the task of feeding a population that will double by 2050 from a decreasing agricultural area, whilst safeguarding the environment. The present credit crunch is taking everyone’s eye off the ball, and the experts are particularly worried about the lack of production due to increased cost and the subsequent cost of food itself. Food and environment are firmly in the basket of public goods we as farmers deliver. Mikhail Orlov from Black Earth Farming in the Russian Federation said they could increase the production of combinable crops by 16% if they were given the infrastructure to do it, but that needs finance, so will it happen?
Farming is needed more than ever; it is the glue that holds the EU together. There is no environment without agriculture, and food security is racing up the agenda.
Mariann Fischer-Boel summed up with four ingredients in her cake (developed from the theme of the Marie Antoinette quote):
1. To provide a safety net for farmers. (Not the old cap but perhaps a strategic reserve of food, how much of what was not mentioned)
2. The right incentives to address environmental issues. (How about NVZ grants and set aside mitigation measures I hear you ask.)
3. A need to deliver renewable energy. (The economics will be interesting)
4. A science based approach to new technologies. (Drought and heat stress etc; best use of resources. So hope for GM.)
Having got home, what is it about having lambs about that makes you just smile? It must be one of the joys of farming and a sure sign that spring is on the way!
