Food & Food Security Working Group
Knowledge exchange, collaboration, and policy recommendations on matters related to food and food security
OBJECTIVES
The collapse of ecosystems will change global weather patterns, increase global food and water scarcity, and food prices; but also increase migration, drive geopolitical competition, and increase conflict and social instability for the remaining resources that will have enormous social costs. We have a lot to learn from each other. The Working Group aims to enhance exchange of knowledge about food, and food sustainability, security and resilience between the Oxford University community by organising workshops, trainings, webinars, lectures, seminars, summer schools, and conferences as well as contributing to the newsletters and blogs.
Knowledge Exchange
Collaboration between Oxford University scientists, researchers, and alumni can effectively address the impacts of food production and consumption on, the economy, and the environment. Solutions include promoting plant-based diets, improving land irrigation for crops, and enhancing biodiversity, which can bolster resilience to climate change and geopolitical shocks. Advancements in, AI, and controlled agriculture, along with a shift to a “just-in-case” food preparedness model are essential for food sustainability. Support for farmers through knowledge, finance, and policies is crucial, facilitated by the Oxford University community's international collaborations.
Collaboration
This working group will also support policymakers in food transformation and investment, as the food sustainability and security approaches around the world, e.g. in the UK, seem vulnerable in the current natural environment. Global ecosystem degradation poses a serious threat to food sustainability and security, and obligates a great food transformation and radical changes for resilience. The food transformation and radical changes require good food policy that the Oxford University community can help by identifying good policy practices and discussing the barriers to these practices. The use of scientific evidence and experience of countries around the globe will facilitate formulating a good food policy for resilience that will incorporate climate change related risks and disasters as well as inequality in food access and nutrition.
Policy Recommendations
Background
Good agricultural practices are imperative to feed the growing world population, reduce poverty and inequalities, improve health, and manage ecosystems and biodiversity for global environmental change. Food production and food waste are the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss. The food system does not only involve production, processing, transport, consumption, and food loss and food waste, but also the governance, sustainability, public health, and the natural environment. Therefore, the contributions of different actors, producers, activities, policies, and outcomes are needed to be an integral part of the food system, and they need to be identified, analysed, assessed, and evaluated in order to determine the correct interventions for reinforcing food security. Collaboration, multi-stakeholder engagement, and knowledge exchange between the University of Oxford community can help accelerate the effectiveness of this process. The community can also integrate innovative methods, techniques, and approaches, as well as new technological advances from different disciplines, views, and narratives, to provide effective intersectoral policy recommendations that can be applicable internationally.
Working Group Membership
The Working Group's membership is below. It is chaired by the Director, Dr Şule Akkoyunlu, who convenes the Working Group and reports to OxCAN's Executive Committee and CEO. For any queries, please get in touch with the Working Group at foodsecurity@oxfordclimatealumni.org.
Dr Şule Akkoyunlu
Working Group Director
Jose F C Hong
Working Group Member
Gerenzel M
Working Group Member
Express Interest in Joining the Working Group
Please provide your details below to express your interest in joining OxCAN's Food & Food Security Working Group. Please note that you must be a member of OxCAN to join the Working Group (if you are not a member, join here).