What Price Cheap Food?

This paper is the report of a meeting that gathered many of the UK's most senior animal scientists with representatives of the farming industry, consumer groups, animal welfare groups, and environmentalists. There was strong consensus that the current economic structure of agriculture cannot adequately address major issues of concern to society: farm incomes, food security and safety, the needs of developing countries, animal welfare, and the environment. This economic structure is based primarily on competition between producers and between retailers, driving food prices down, combined with externalization of many costs. These issues must be addressed by a combination of legislation, restructuring of the market, and use of public funds. The meeting included workshops that made other recommendations for research and education. The most urgent requirement is recognition that change is needed and development of a vision for what that change must achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]