Food Security the Environment | MatthewAshley.co.uk

Food security is one of my specific research interests and has formed my masters dissertation.

My topic of focus throughout my masters dissertation was: food loss on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which consists of some of the highest post-harvest losses (PHL) in the world.

Most of these losses can be reduced by effective knowledge/technology distribution, and investment in resistant seed strains.

Outside of my degree I am interested in UK food security, and the dangers the that UK and other import dependent states face in an increasingly uncertain political, economic, social, and environmental climate.

Other focuses are: population increase, decreasing total food loss and increasing yield, food availability due to climate change and the dangers of food loss presents in those regions impacted most by climate change.

Here are some interesting articles surrounding food security, food loss, agricultural governance, farming and similar topics.

Latest Research Articles

5 December 2019 / Food loss, The Environment

Meat: A threat to our planet?

Having watched the BBC documentary recently on the topic of Meat production and the threat it poses to our planet. I thought a short assessment on the documentary would be appropriate.

21 July 2019 / Food loss

Climate change and chickens in Nigeria

Behavioural instruments could also be trialled to get those farmers that are more economically better off, to share their resources and knowledge with the benefit of decreased losses and increased production for both parties.

4 June 2019 / Food loss, The Environment

June 2019 Food Thinkers seminar

The UK is facing the biggest overhaul of UK agrifood policy since the end of the Second World War. EU Exit, 25-year Environment plan, National Food Strategy and Agricultural bill signal the need for coherent policy development.

7 May 2019 / Food loss, The Environment

Climate impacts on food security

Climate change is set to impact sub-Saharan Africa and other developing states who are already food insecure markedly. One of the solutions beside reducing emissions, is that of effective knowledge-transfer which can reduce Post-Harvest losses and increase food production.

7 May 2019 / Food loss, The Environment

The push to consume insects instead of traditional farmed meat

Is shifting to insect protein the answer to solving the climate, environmental and food security? Or should more caution be exercised in pushing such diets as the sole answer to interdependent issues?

5 March 2019 / Food loss, The Environment

Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth

Avoiding meat and dairy is ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth -

(Click on the titles to access)

Warning of possible egg shortage as UK farmers struggle with avian flu – November 2022
Reduced flock sizes and rising costs put pressure on supplies but retailers say they are working to minimize impact. (Source: Joanna Partridge – Tue 8 Nov 2022 – The Guardian).

Tesco may join Lidl and Asda in rationing eggs as bird flu leads to empty shelves Supermarket considers joining Asda and Lidl in placing limits (Source: Helen Horton – Wed 16 Nov 2022 – The Guardian).

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the threat to world food security – May 2022

The coming food catastrophe – War is tipping a fragile world towards mass hunger. Fixing that is everyone’s business (Source: The Economist)

Food Security and Food waste in developed countries

British farmers in turmoil as delayed spring plays havoc with growing season (Source: The Guardian)
UK appoints food minister ahead of no deal brexit

Food Security and Food loss in developing countries

Toolkit for Progressive Policymakers in Developing Countries
Strengthening farm-agribusiness links in Africa