Food Security
We must have food to survive. It's one of our most basic needs and we have to keep its supply safe and sustainable.
In Scotland, blessed with plentiful land, water and fine natural produce, our food is secure and everything this Government does will continue to make sure this remains the case.
The Scottish Government believes that maintaining our national capacity to produce food benefits the whole nation and the world at large. But the Scottish Government realises that our supply of food and drink is reliant on highly complex domestic and global food chains, in a world facing increasing challenges.
As a government we also remember that Scotland has much to offer to help other nations secure their food supply.
Here are some figures that will help put the issues in context:
- By 2030 the world will need 30% more fresh water and 50% more energy.
- By 2050 we'll need 70% more food for a world population of around 9 billion (currently 6.1 billion) - at a time when we're also managing and adapting to climate change.
- By 2030 world cereal production will need to increase by 50% and world meat production by 85% from 2000 figures.
- In the developing world, poor processing, storage and transport can result in as much as 37% of harvested food being lost before it's consumed.
- The UN's annual report on global food security confirms that more than one billion people - one sixth of the world's population - are undernourished.
- An equal number, one billion people worldwide, are overweight, of whom 300 million are obese.
- People in the developing world can spend from 50-80% of their income on food.
- The average UK household expenditure on food is dropping - currently 9% as against 16% in 1984.