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The Influence Of Science Policy On UK Food Security

812 Words4 Pages

Science policy has been defined by the Royal Society of Biology as “the combination of scientific expertise with knowledge and understanding of government and policy making, decision making and scrutiny processes to ensure that legislation and policy have a sound evidence base” (Royal Society of Biology, 2017). This definition identifies the broad spectrum of topics that are encapsulated under the title of science policy and shows there is almost no limit to the scope that science policy incorporates to some degree. Science policy is undertaken by research councils; policy makers direct a research council to focus on a specific topic and the research council portrays the science in a way that is clear and unbiased for all policy makers. This …show more content…

Food security was defined in 1996 at the World Food Summit as “when all people, at all time, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, 1996). Food security relies on interplay from several sectors as the UK is not a self-sufficient producer of food, depending heavily on imported food and therefore international relations and economics. The relevance of food security is worldwide, every single person is affected by the availability of food, and therefore would be affected by lack of. Due to increased pressures from climate change and population growth, food production is being limited to gradually less land but more food is needed than ever before. Science is therefore trying to find a way of easing the strain on food production through the implementation of genetic engineering, selective breeding, and alternative food …show more content…

In the near future, it is unlikely that GMOs will be sold for human consumption in the EU on a mass scale. However, as they are used widely for animal feed there is certainly scope to implement some improvements without interruption to the supply chain, and avoiding public backlash. Increased efficiencies in the supply chain of animal feed reduces the cost of raising the animals, which in turn reduces the cost of food for the public. Simple genetic engineering techniques can greatly increase efficiency of production and reduce losses, whilst having less damaging effects than are presently

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