UK Centre to Help Improve Global Food Security

The new Norwich Institute for Sustainable Development, launched on Feb 1 will focus on developing solutions to enable farmers all over the world to build resilience to variability in rainfall, periods of drought and more extreme and unpredictable weather events.

Launched with £750,000 of funding from the John Innes Foundation, the new Institute will be based at Norwich Research Park, alongside partners the Earlham Institute (EI), Quadram Institute and The Sainsbury Laboratory and represents a landmark as the first formal partnership of expertise in plant science from the John Innes Centre and the social sciences from UEA’s School of International Development.

Research shows that yields of major staple foods like grains, fruits and vegetables are expected to decrease, with global temperatures soaring year on year, and it is hoped the work of the Institute can help to mitigate these stark predictions.

Professor Neil Hall, Director of EI, said: “I’m delighted the Earlham Institute will be a partner on this important initiative. The collective knowledge, expertise and passion we have in the region will allow us to drive forward the research, policies and public awareness that are all needed to safeguard the health of our planet and wellbeing of future generations”

Professor Nitya Rao, Director for the new Institute said: “This is the most critical issue facing the world today. If we don’t act now crop yields will continue to reduce and become more unreliable over time.

“People in the UK and across the world could soon see everyday foods like bread, cereals and tomatoes becoming scarcer and more expensive. This will affect those who are most vulnerable who may be unable to access adequate, nutritious and affordable food for themselves and their families.”

“It’s not all bad news though, as researchers have made considerable progress over the last 50 years, with technologies now available for dealing with pests, diseases and water scarcity, alongside attention to what people actually need. A key focus for us is to change the way we work – to make sure that innovations meet farmers’ needs around the world, supporting farming communities to make agriculture more resilient and supporting the world’s food supply.”

More information available online