In contrast to the decades where we worried about food mountains, the concern today is about food shortages.  The demands on our land for food remain intense.  Global pressure on food supply will grow as the Earth's population rises to 9 billion by 2050 and western eating habits spread throughout the developing world.  We have to ensure that our farmers have the incentives and the skills to respond to the challenges of food security in harmony with the environment.  Currently innovation is constrained by regulation which is focused on process rather than outcomes.  Could we move to a system where farmers are paid for delivering outputs, whether it is for food production, conservation, water management, or other ecosystem services?  What is the role of subsidies in securing public goods and what priorities should we have as we look ahead to reform of the Common Agricultural Policy?

Agriculture - The Vital Industry

At a time when climate change, a drop in domestic resilience and a rising population threaten our food supplies Peter Kendall, the President of the NFU, argues that agriculture is the vital industry and outlines some measures to secure its future.

Peter Kendall, National Farmers' Union - 22/07/2009 Have your say

The Rejuvenation of Agriculture

Agriculture has shaped our landscape and fed our people, but farmers face a growing challenge. Mark Price, the Managing Director of Waitrose, thinks that its time to reconnect with consumers and protect our farmers.

Mark Price, Managing Director of Waitrose - 24/07/2009 Have your say

What is Land For?

In a timely essay Professor Tim Lang of City University comments on the progress the Government have made on food security policy and sets out the key questions for the future.

Professor Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University - 11/08/2009 Have your say

Agricultural Biotechnology: Surely Farmers Deserve the Choice to Use All the Tools Available to Them?

Julian Little of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council outlines the challenges facing agriculture and argues that GM has to be part of the solution.

Dr Julian Little, Agricultural Biotechnology Council - 24/08/2009 Have your say

Good Animal Welfare: Where Does it Feature in our Vision for the Future of Farming?

In a challenging article in which he argues for reduced meat consumption and a change in farming methods Peter Stevenson from Compassion in World Farming argues that animal welfare should become a central objective of food policy.

Peter Stevenson, Compassion in World Farming - 01/10/2009 Have your say

Head to Head: What Best for Wildlife - Garden or Field

In our first head to head Dr Ken Thompson sets out why he believes gardens are better for wildlife than farmland. The National Farmers' Union outline the reasons why this might not be the case.

Dr Ken Thompson - 06/10/2009 Have your say

Much More Than What We Eat

The National Trust is one of the largest land owners and managers in the UK. Here Peter Nixon, their Head of Conservation outlines the challenges facing the agricultural land they manage, and some of the local solutions that they have found.

Peter Nixon, The National Trust - 12/11/2009 Have your say

Win-Win Land Management: The Future for Farming

We expect a lot from our land and our farmers, argues Sue Armstrong-Brown of the RSPB, both in terms of food security and conservation, but by getting the markets and incentives right we can deliver multiple benefits for managers and the landscape.

Dr Sue Armstrong-Brown, RSPB - 20/11/2009 Have your say