Summary
Agriculture Ministers must engage far earlier on European agricultural regulations, James Paice insisted today.

The Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs was speaking at the Conservative fringe entitled ‘The Perfect Storm: tackling the global food security crisis’. Also speaking at the event, sponsored by the Crop Protection Association was Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Shadow International Trade and Development Minister, Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Executive Director for Tesco, Gareth Edwards-Jones, UK Food Policy Council, Dr Mark Avery, Conservation Director RSPB and Robin McKie of the Observer. Dominic Dyer, Chief Executive of the CPA was chairing the event.

Global food production had to be increased and become more efficient, while incorporating landscape conservation concerns, James Paice argued. Water demand would be a significant concern for agriculture he noted. Increasing imports of fresh produce, which was predominantly water, would lead to increased demand for water and was an ineffective use of carbon, he noted.