UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the establishment of a cutting-edge science centre at the Global Food Security Summit in London, a strategic collaboration with Somalia, UAE, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The UK’s International Development White Paper, unveiled at the summit, aims to address food insecurity, extreme poverty, and climate change through collaborative efforts which include ‘mobilising international finance, reforming the international system, harnessing innovation, and putting women and girls centre stage, ensuring opportunities for all.’
The initiative will focus on climate-resilient crop development, connecting UK scientists with global ambitions. The UK’s International Development White Paper, unveiled at the summit, outlines collaborative efforts to combat extreme poverty and climate change, mobilising international finance, reforming systems, harnessing innovation, and prioritising women and girls. The UK has taken a leading role in mitigating global food insecurity, ensuring Ukraine’s continued agricultural exports, and addressing malnutrition, contributing to 45% of child deaths globally. The summit underscores the urgent need to develop flood-tolerant rice, disease-resistant wheat, and vitamin-rich sweet potatoes, and allocates substantial humanitarian funding to countries facing food insecurity.
The UK has also played a pivotal role in advancing agricultural technology in countries east of the former Iron Curtain that joined the EU from 2004 onwards. Through initiatives, partnerships, and knowledge exchange, the UK has contributed expertise in precision farming, sustainable agriculture, and modern farming practices.
This collaboration has facilitated the integration of Eastern European nations into the EU’s agricultural framework, enhancing productivity, sustainability, and competitiveness in the global market. The exchange of best practices and technology has been instrumental in modernizing farming methods, promoting economic growth, and fostering a shared commitment to agricultural innovation within the expanded EU community.
