LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a new science initiative on Monday to develop flood-tolerant rice, disease-resistant wheat, and other climate-resilient crops. The initiative aims to tackle the global food security crisis exacerbated by climate change through cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence.
Sunak made the announcement at the Global Food Security Summit in London, attended by ministers, diplomats, and philanthropists from approximately 20 countries. Addressing the summit, Sunak called for a significant shift in the approach to food security, emphasizing the crucial role of science. He also outlined the establishment of a “virtual science hub” by the U.K. to connect international researchers focused on developing resilient crops, as part of the global research partnership CGIAR.
“Climate change, conflict, and population growth pose increasingly significant challenges to food supplies,” Sunak stated. “We need to fundamentally transform our approach to food security, focusing on long-term solutions to prevent food crises and leveraging the power of science and technology to ensure resilient supplies in the face of threats such as conflict, drought, and flooding,” he added.
The summit, co-hosted by Somalia and the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, coincided with the release of an updated U.K. development strategy aimed at ending extreme poverty and addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.
The U.K.’s aid plans through 2030 were outlined in the document, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to not reinstating development aid to 0.7% of gross national income until “the fiscal situation allows.” Instead, the U.K. plans to allocate funds strategically to help countries bolster their defenses against natural disasters, mobilize additional private-sector funding for development, and develop “mutually respectful” relationships with developing nations.
Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasized the need for partnership and collaboration, stating, “Today’s approach cannot solely involve developed countries ‘doing development’ to others. We need to work together as partners, shaping narratives that developing countries own and deliver.”
However, the conference venue at Lancaster House was met with protests from activists of Medical Aid for Palestinians, urging a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict to facilitate the urgent delivery of food and humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Melanie Ward, the organization’s chief executive, highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, where 2.2 million people are at risk of starvation due to the ongoing siege. Ward stressed the urgent need for increased aid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
In addressing the crisis, Sunak urged Israel to implement “urgent and substantive humanitarian pauses” to allow the delivery of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine to Gaza. He acknowledged the severity of the situation, emphasizing the pressing need for immediate action.
“The situation on the ground is truly tragic and getting worse,” Sunak observed.
