Committees

Innovation and global food security

Inquiry

The United Nations has estimated that global food production would need to increase by 70% by 2050 to feed a population of 9.7 billion. Science, innovation and technology have a role to play in sustainably increasing food production.  

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee is launching an inquiry to explore innovations – and the low technology solutions – that could improve agricultural practices around the world and examine the UK’s role in contributing to global food security. 

This inquiry will examine how scientific and technological innovations can be applied to the current agricultural system across the globe as well as methods of overcoming barriers to adoption. The committee will also explore wider solutions to challenges faced by the global food and agricultural sectors, with a particular focus on the UK’s role in achieving global food security. 

Read the call for evidence here:

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Tuesday 7 July 2026
11:15am Private
11:30am Public
Innovation and global food security - Oral evidence 7 July 2026
11:30am
  • Dr Riaz Bhunnoo (Associate Director, Thematic Research Challenges and Food at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI))
  • Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith (Executive Chair at Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC))
  • Chris Danks (Head of Agri-Food at Innovate UK)
12:30pm
  • The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Minister of International Development and Africa at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
  • Professor Sir John Edmunds (Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence at Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office)
  • Professor Anjali Goswami (Chief Scientific Advisor at Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Charlotte Baker (Director, Agri-Food Chain Directorate at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 19 May 2026
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Innovation and global food security - Oral evidence 19 May 2026
9:30am
  • Ben Crowther (CTO and Co-Founder at Lettus Grow)
  • Dr Cara Griffiths (Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at SugaROx)
  • Charles Veys (CEO & Founder at Fotenix)
  • Ross Haffenden (Chief Commercial Officer at Optigene)
10:15am
  • Rory Hornby (Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder at ALORA)
  • Duncan Ribbons (Chief Legal Officer at Tropic)
  • Dr Rhian Hayward MBE (Chief Executive Officer at AberInnovation)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 20 January 2026
9:00am Private
9:30am Public
Oral evidence session 20 January 2026
Innovation showcase - Oral evidence
9:30am
  • John Hemming (Representative at Biohacking to Improve Everyone’s Health Team)
Innovation and global food security - Oral evidence
9:45am
  • Professor Paul Behrens (British Academy Global Professor at University of Oxford)
  • Dr Belinda Clarke (Director at Agri-techE)
10:30am
  • Tom Allen-Stevens (Managing Director at British on-farm innovation network (BOFIN))
  • Peter Setimela (Country Representative Zambia and Senior Scientist at CIMMYT)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Tuesday 4 November 2025
9:00am Private
9:45am Public
Oral evidence session 4 November 2025
Innovation showcase - Oral evidence
9:30am
  • Duncan Ribbons (VP IP & Regulatory at Tropic Biosciences)
  • Dr Phil Zegerman (Associate Director Technology Development at Tropic Biosciences)
Innovation and global food security - Oral evidence
9:45am
  • Dr Ismahane Elouafi (Executive Managing Director at CGIAR)
  • Professor Cristobal Uauy (Director at John Innes Centre)
10:30am
  • Imran Afzal (CEO at National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre)
  • Dr Hannah Cooper (Assistant Professor in Agronomy at University of Nottingham)
Room 8, Palace of Westminster

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