In the next lecture of the Science and Society series, Food Standard’s Agency (FSA) Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Guy Poppy will be presenting on the role of science and technology in providing food security for the 21st Century.
Achieving Global food security is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. It is said that addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal associated with food and hunger will in turn address most of the other SDG’s set by the UN. Too often food security is tackled using a single lens or addressing a single pillar of the 4 recognised as being important (availability, access, utilisation and stability/resilience) and by specific disciplines arguing about how their approach will deliver food security.
Professor Poppy will explore how interdisciplinary research is required using examples from Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe whilst recognising the globalised food system is evolving at pace. He will outline how science for policy and policy for science are crucial is ensuring UK consumers are food secure. The use of technologies from Big Data, Internet of Things and the exciting possibilities of Microbiome and AMR research, are crucial to ensuring food is safe and can be trusted in the UK today and tomorrow. Life as an academic on the front line in a Government Department will be discussed and the lessons learnt in ensuring science has impact.
Professor Guy Poppy took up his role as the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser in August 2014. He will also continue with his research in global food security at the University of Southampton, where he is Professor of Ecology and previously directed Interdisciplinary Research across 11 research themes and 4 institutes.
Professor Poppy has significant research experience in food systems and food security and has advised governments around the world on these issues.
As the FSA’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Poppy provides expert scientific advice to the UK government and plays a critical role in helping to understand how scientific developments will shape the work of the FSA as well as the strategic implications of any possible changes.
Information and booking
The lecture, which is free and open to the public and will take place at the Leggate Theatre, Victoria Gallery & Museum on Tuesady, 20 November at 5.30pm.
Admission is free but places must be booked in advance by visiting the events website: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/events/event/?eventid=87704