T Burrington ECFS0052

Written evidence submitted by T Burrington

The Environmental Audit Committee

Environmental Change and Food Security

Food security risks of climate change and biodiversity loss

I am submitting evidence as an individual interested in the World Economic Forum’s influence on the UN [1] and corporate/other influences on science. I am concerned regarding the lack of public/academic debate surrounding the Dasgupta Review [2] and the World Economic Forum’s Strategic Intelligence [3].

What role do food technologies have in mitigating the risks that environmental changes poses to UK food security?

I have responded in the past to several related inquiries. It is a vast subject but would, in brief, refer the Committee to Testbiotech’s work [4] (German NGO). Two examples:

https://www.testbiotech.org/en/news/why-new-genetic-engineering-needs-be-regulated

https://www.testbiotech.org/en/limits-to-biotech/genetically-engineered-corals

This example shows: the careless use of genetic engineering endangers species protection. There is a significant risk that the ecosystems will be destabilised and the loss of species accelerated.

Please see ETC Group [5] Report the “wrong kind of summit”. Please refer to Box 5:
https://www.etcgroup.org/sites/www.etcgroup.org/files/files/final_fss_en_for_web_revised_130821.pdf.

Is there research and development the Government could be funding to provide food security solutions?

Yes. Agroecology [6]

Yes. Conflict Resolution [7]

December 2022

[3] “Like it or not, the “profit with purpose” asset managers pushing UN SDG-aligned investments are bound to Bolivia’s lithium and Congo’s cobalt-the child miners, too. Without those materials they cannot tally the impact. Political upheaval, violence against Indigenous peoples, and human rights violations must be calculated into the cost of the brutal business of “green capitalism.”
Alison McDowell, United States Researcher

[4] What are the consequences of genetic engineering for humans and the environment? From a critical point of view, Testbiotech provides information and scientific expertise on the risks associated with these technologies, that is completely independent of the biotech industry. In this way, we help to strengthen the decision-making competence of politicians and society.