A feast of intellectual debate and local food is on offer during a Lancaster University’s 50th anniversary lecture, on the challenge of feeding a growing population
“One of the most significant challenges currently facing humankind is to make enough food to enable a growing population, likely to rise beyond 9 billion within the next 40 years, to have an active healthy lifestyle,” said Distinguished Professor Bill Davies CBE, from the Lancaster Environment Centre.
Bill, along with a panel of specialists from different fields, is tackling this topic in a public lecture and debate, part of a series to celebrate Lancaster University’s 50th anniversary.
“There are many factors that combine to impact the access that people have to food. Food production is clearly important and this is being impacted by climate change, but we can also feed more people if we distribute food more effectively and waste less food. Meeting this latter target requires that people change their food purchasing and utilisation habits.
“Of course there are also factors that have little directly to do with food, such as the state of the economy, and these can greatly affect who eats what and in what quantities.
“There is much concern over the damaging effects of the food production system on the environment and we must work to make more food available in an environmentally responsible fashion. Of course we should also be concerned about the quality and safety of our food”
This event examines a variety of approaches which might help us to address the challenge of food insecurity and in particular, seeks to link our global concerns with local issues.
Following a short presentation from Bill, questions from the audience will be put to the panel of experts including:
- Alan Wilson, Technical Manager Agronomy, Waitrose
- Councillor Caroline Jackson for Lancaster's Bulk Ward, Green Party
- Clare McDermott, Business Development Director, Soil Association Certification
Audience members are encouraged to submit questions in advance, during registration or via email to b.gordon@lancaster.ac.uk, however questions will be accepted during the event.
There will be a local food buffet following the lecture at 8pm, where audience members can discuss the topic further and network with the speakers and other guests.
Date and time: Monday, 30 March 2015, 6:30pm to 9pm
Venue: The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster
Lancaster Environment Centre offers a Masters degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security and also a PGCert in the same subject.