Fair food distribution in a warmer world

The Food Ethics Council’s World Food Day debate, at the Royal Horticultural Halls, drew the crowds with big hitters Rosie Boycott chairing and Carolyn Steel (architect and author), Callton Young (Food and Drink Federation) and Julian Oram (World Development Movement) on the panel.

The speakers sketched out their visions of what we’ll eat, where our food will come from and how we’ll live in a warmer world. The debate ranged from global hunger to land use issues, and took in questions of food sovereignty, supply chains, big business and local food initiatives along the way.

Reflecting on the event and on Carolyn Steel’s optimistic vision of a radically greener, fairer future, Rick Pendrous, editor of Food Manufacture magazine, writes:

“Steel’s vision might be idealist, but it contains grains of truth... While the Food and Drink Federation’s sustainability director Callton Young… suggested ‘small steps’ were the way ahead, we don’t really have the luxury of time on our side. We urgently need to make the radical changes in our behaviour.”