5 February 2015 The problem of food: Scientist puts spotlight on crisis

"Food safety and security is one of the most significant challenges humanity has ever faced. We are entering a global crisis, and the complexity of the problem demands urgent measures."

That’s according to Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Food Microbiology, Dr Malik Hussain, whose comments come as part of an editorial in a special edition of the journal Advances in Food Technology and Nutritional Sciences.

At the heart of the challenge lie the pressing issues of a large, rapidly growing population, deteriorating agricultural soils, falling water tables, and the need to rapidly modify production methods based on climate change.

According to Dr Hussain, while food safety and security issues are nothing new, it’s the scale and interconnectedness of the problem that makes the situation more serious now.

"The planet is, in a sense, creaking and groaning under the pressure. The seriousness of the issue is exacerbated all the more by the truly global nature of the problem. Even a single event such as drought or famine has the capacity to cause massive disruption to the world food supply.

"It’s also important to realise that issues in food safety and security can very rapidly translate into issues of social, economic and political instability.

"It’s not just about food. The interconnectedness of the issue means that it’s also a question of policy, regulation, political will, efficient supply chains, and education. If we are going to solve this problem then we need all these facets moving forward in a systematic and sustained manner.

"Food science and technology will only save the day if it’s used smartly, and its development and implementation helped along by politicians and policy makers who collectively see the need and have truly fathomed the broader global issue," says Dr Hussain.

The multifaceted nature of the problem means there is no single panacea. However, Dr Hussain notes that one area where food science should put its focus is in exploring ways to limit waste, either through improving food quality or improved utilisation.

"Even though 1.2 billion people are currently believed to be facing hunger and extreme poverty, the United Nations found that, in 2013, approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food was wasted. That’s about one third of the world’s supply," says Dr Hussain.