Government advisor impressed by University research
Release Date 02 November 2010
The Government's Chief Scientific Advisor visited the University of Reading to learn more about its important research into climate change and food security, ahead of the publication of his report outlining the challenges facing the future of food and farming.
Sir John Beddington received presentations from a number of key staff in agriculture and meterogology, and visited the University's farm in Shinfield, the Institute of Cardio Vascular and Metabolic Research (ICMR) and the Hugh Sinclair Unit for Human Nutrition.
The University is unique in having individual research projects that cover the whole food chain, tackling factors such as changes in climate and land use, over-nutrition in western societies, changes of nutrition in developing countries and increased awareness of the environmental consequences of food production.
Sir John returns to Reading on the 25 November to give the Museum of English Rural Life's annual lecture which this year also marks the launch of the University's Centre for Food Security. This will harness the research excellence at Reading and will focus on three interconnected strands: diet and health, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity.
The lecture entitled, The global future of food and faming, addresses the challenges the world will face in 2050 with a global population of nine billion. This forms part of the Government's Foresight Global Food and Farming Futures, a three-year project headed by Sir John, which will report its findings early in the New Year.
The event on 25 November, at 7pm, is free of charge but booking is essential. Please email merlevents@reading.ac.uk or call 0118 378 8660 (answerphone on Mondays).
ENDS
For more details please contact Rona Cheeseman, press officer, on 0118 378 7388 or email r.cheeseman@reading.ac.uk