25 Jun 2014
00:00
Research Workshop // "Nexus thinking for food security research: Pathways to delivering a nexus approach", London
The Global Food Security Programme (GFS) is holding a horizon-scanning workshop on the "nexus" in central London. This workshop brings together around fifty senior industry and public sector decision-makers with academic communities whose research interests span the nexus. The aim is to clarify and stimulate thinking, identify interdisciplinary research priorities, and foster cross-sector collaboration.
The day's agenda has been designed to be broad in scope, interdisciplinary, stimulating and interactive. The morning session will encourage delegates to consider the appropriate spatial scale for managing land in the UK using a nexus approach, the major challenges to doing this, and the gaps in our current knowledge. In the afternoon, delegates will shift their focus outwards towards the UK's food supply: Given that the UK imports from areas with increasing pressure on local natural resources, what are the associated risks of this to both our supply chain resilience, and the producer countries' own national security?
The high-profile day will commence with an opening introduction from Professor Tim Benton (Champion of the Global Food Security programme), and Professor Jackie Hunter CBE (Chief Executive, BBSRC).
Guest speakers include:
-Professor Ian Bateman OBE (Professor of Environmental Sciences, UEA)
-Jim Godfrey OBE (Director of the Godfrey family farming companies)
-Professor Ian Boyd (Defra)
-Professor Bruce Lankford (Professor of Water and Irrigation Policy, UEA)
-Dr Tim Hess (Reader in Water Management, Cranfield University)
-Dr Chris Brown (Head of Ethical and Sustainable Sourcing, ASDA)
The results of the day will be used to inform interdisciplinary research priorities. GFS is hopeful that by integrating the management and governance of these resources across sectors and scales, a nexus approach would enhance water, energy and food security by increasing efficiency, reducing trade-offs, building synergies and improving governance across sectors.