World scientists to issue comprehensive report tackling food insecurity
Next week, an independent commission of scientific leaders from thirteen countries will deliver a detailed set of recommendations to policymakers on how to achieve food security in the face of climate change. In its report, the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change proposes specific policy responses to the global challenge of feeding a world confronted by climate change, population growth, poverty, food price spikes and degraded ecosystems.
The Commission will release its final report, and premier an animated video next Wednesday, March 28 at a 12:30 pm session at Planet Under Pressure— a major conference bringing together the global scientific community to provide leadership towards the Rio+20 Earth Summit this June in Brazil.
WHAT:
Key Conference Session at Planet Under Pressure
WHO:
Sir John Beddington, Commission Chair
Professor Molly Jahn, University of Madison-Wisconsin, United States
Professor Tekalign Mamo, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia
Professor Robert Scholes, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
WHEN:
Wednesday, 28 March 2012 at 12:30 p.m. London/7:30 a.m. EDT
Venue: Room 11, Planet under Pressure Conference
Location: London, UK
DETAILS:
To preview the animated video, receive an embargoed copy of the report, request interviews, or for more information, contact:
Neil Sorensen at +33 64 166 8648 or neil_sorensen@yahoo.com or
Michelle Geis at +1 301 280 5712 or mgeis@burnesscommunications.com
Additional materials to support this announcement, including photos, are available.
Background Statistics
Nearly one billion people in the world are undernourished while millions suffer from chronic disease due to excess food consumption. Global demand is growing for agricultural products and food prices are rising, yet roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. Climate change threatens more frequent drought, flooding and pest outbreaks and the world loses 12 million hectares of agricultural land each year to land degradation. Land clearing and inefficient practices make agriculture the largest source of greenhouse gas pollution on the planet.
Report Background
The Commission reviewed the scientific evidence base to develop a package of solutions that address how food is produced, distributed, and consumed. The report synthesizes authoritative studies on climate change and food security as well as thousands of peer-reviewed studies.
The report gives a complete overview of the current state of the food system and specifies a holistic approach to transforming the food system and defining a path towards long-term sustainability. It highlights specific opportunities under the mandates of the Rio+20 Earth Summit, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Group of 20 (G20) nations.
Animated video launch on the 'How to feed the world in 2050: actions in a changing climate'
The Commission has created an animated video that describes the major strategies for moving the planet towards a food secure future. To achieve a 'safe operating space' for people and the planet, humanity must operate within three limits: the quantity of food that can be produced under a given climate; the quantity needed by a growing and changing population; and the effect of food production on climate. The Commission will launch the animated video at the Planet Under Press Conference on the 28th.
The URL for advance viewing only: http://vimeo.com/user10881431/how-to-feed-the-world-in-2050-actions-in-a-changing-climate
Please confirm your interest to receive the password.
Final 'live' URL: bit.ly/SafeSpaceClimateFood
Provided by Burness Communications
