On 13 May, Professor Peter Jackson gave a talk in the longstanding Monday night lecture series at the RGS-IBG in London. He discussed the global challenge of food security and the need for a more integrated, system-wide perspective. His central theme was increasing connection: between the Global North and Global South, production and consumption, health and sustainability, the natural and social sciences.
While there is growing agreement about what needs to be done to address the challenges of food security – promoting ‘sustainable intensification’; reducing food loss and waste; encouraging dietary change; improving the resilience and robustness of the agri-food system; increased awareness, accountability and environmental stewardship by producers and consumers – Peter made the case for more ‘joined up’ and decisive thinking across government departments and among multiple stakeholders.
The talk attracted an audience of over 500 people including policy-makers, representatives from charities and NGOs, and the general public. Guest of honour was Graham Currie, Peter’s geography teacher from the 1970s. The talk also gave an opportunity to publicise the work of the new University of Sheffield Institute for Sustainable Food which Peter co-directs with Duncan Cameron from Animal and Plant Sciences.