Aquaculture experts at the University of Stirling have made a substantial contribution to the Global Food and Farming Futures report which was commissioned by the UK government and launched in London this week by Chief Scientist Sir John Beddington.
The foresight report concludes that the current system of food production and supply is unsustainable and will fail to feed the growing global population unless radically redesigned. In introducing the report, Sir Beddington said it provides compelling evidence for governments to act now.
Stirling staff were engaged throughout the study. Emeritus Professor James Muir of the Institute of Aquaculture was in the lead expert group and co-ordinated the work on fisheries, aquaculture and other aquatic food resources.
Ten members of staff of the Institute (Professors Brendan McAndrew, Randolph Richards, David Little and Lindsay Ross, Drs Kim Jauncey, Trevor Telfer, Richard Corner, and John Bostock, Neil Handisyde and Iain Gatward) contributed Driver Report No 16 on Aquaculture, whilst Professor James Young of Stirling Management School contributed Driver Report 17 on Production to Plate.
Contributions were also made by way of State of Science Reviews: Professor Brendan McAndrew to SR3 Biotechnology in Aquaculture, and John Bostock to SR8 Modern Aquaculture, while former members of staff and alumni contributed to other components of the work, including Drs Martin van Brakel (Regional Case Study R6), Simon Funge-Smith (Driver Report 15 on freshwater fisheries), Malcolm Beveridge and Stuart Bunting (other workshop and review inputs).
Professor Brian Austin, Director of the Institute of Aquaculture, said: “The extent of our contribution to this important report demonstrates the broad range of expertise and interests at the University of Stirling, and I am delighted that so many of our staff have had the opportunity to influence the future direction of aquaculture policy in the UK.”
