Farming and environmental NGOs came together in Brussels to debate their relationship this week at the Forum for the Future of Agriculture.

Several sessions were dedicated to small-scale agriculture and farming in the developing world. Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan was a keynote speaker and had a strong focus on the subsistence agriculture that is a feature of many developing countries.

There was a wide range of speakers with an emphasis on conservation and the role of food in lifestyle, with an examination of how food waste could be reduced. The parallel issues of undernourishment and obesity were debated alongside the fact that up to a third of food is dumped in the developed world.

100 years ago, half the world suffered from malnutrition

Louise Fresco from Wageningen University in the Netherlands delivered a thought-provoking presentation on the current issues with food production. She told the conference that 100 years ago, half the world suffered from malnutrition. However, today there is more, safer food at lower prices than ever – yet there is unease about food and agriculture among consumers.

She also highlighted how science was now treated by many as another opinion rather than fact. She used the recent glyphosate debate in the European Parliament as an example where the science and benefits of the product were overlooked by opinion.

Large-scale agriculture

In an event where there was a strong focus on the importance of small and community producers, she made a case for large-scale agriculture as a necessity for feeding large urban populations.

The conference attracted almost 1,000 delegates with farming and environment interests from across the world. European Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans and Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan addressed the event.

Read more about the session on CAP reform in this Thursday's Irish Farmers Journal.