“Our food system is damaging the very foundations of our food security.” When Paul Behrens delivered this assessment to over a thousand policymakers and business leaders in Westminster last month, it could have been a counsel of despair. It wasn’t. That’s because Behrens, speaking at the National Emergency Briefing on climate and nature, framed the…
For decades, climate negotiations have treated food security as separate from emissions reduction. The Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and People-Centred Climate Action changed that. Forty-three countries plus the EU committed to putting the needs of those living with poverty and food insecurity at the centre of climate solutions. This high-level declaration represents a milestone…
The numbers in the UK are staggering: Unhealthy diets cost an estimated £268 billion annually. Some 2.8 million people are out of work due to diet-related illness. Two-thirds of our calories come from ultra-processed foods that are also high in fat, sugar and salt. And three decades of government effort to address the issue involving…
Algae just might have superpowers. Packed with nutrients, including high levels of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, some species are considered a ‘complete’ food. Algae can confer immune support and have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the likelihood of cancer and heart disease, among many other benefits to human health. But that’s not all. Algae…
A lot has been written about the potential for insect proteins to become part of our diets. The topic has been investigated in the scientific literature for more than 30 years. Much of this research has tried to account for the popularity of insects as part of the traditional diet in non-western cultures and the…
I recently wrote about the potential for insect proteins to shape human and animal diets. Despite decades of research and hype, insects have not become a mainstream food in westernised cultures. Many factors are responsible for the current state of the industry and a combination of economic, political, and social issues will need to be…
Elta Smith is an independent researcher, writer and consultant. She is an experienced leader in making better policies for our food systems. Her research focuses on the intersection of food, the environment and human health.
She has directed and managed studies for UK, EU and international organisations covering issues not only from ‘farm to fork’, but from ‘lab to fork’, particularly the role of science and technology in transforming the food chain.
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