Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/464860
The flooding that devastated whole communities and left thousands of acres of farmland under water was a stark indicator of the relationship between our weather, environment and food systems, and the importance of reducing the risk of flooding for future generations. Despite having to leave their homes and treasured belongings behind, the inspirational resilience and community spirit of people and families in the worst affected areas illustrated the remarkable way in which people pull together in times of adversity. As a government, we have to do everything we can to help those who face the highest risk of personal and financial loss from extreme weather events. So the passing of the Water Act onto the statute books was a landmark moment, and I am proud that this legislation ensures that hundreds of thousands of households in the highest flood risk areas will be able to access affordable flood insurance for the first time from 2015. For the farmers that lost winter crops and pastureland to the series of floods that swept across many regions, the government made £10 million of funding available to help the many that would otherwise face financial ruin. Agriculture contributed £9.2 billion to the UK economy in 2013. It is in all our interests to see those farmers affected by flooding get back to business as soon as possible. The weather in the UK that led to last winter's floods was the worst our country has faced for 250 years. However, it was not only the UK that bore the brunt of extreme weather events. Those responsible for putting food on tables around the globe faced challenges of their own. These events highlighted the importance of ensuring food security, and alleviating the growing pressures facing the global food system – including an increasing human population, which is set to peak at nine billion mouths to feed within our children's lifetimes. We need to act today to ensure that future decision-makers have all the tools available to them to tackle one of the most pressing problems facing the planet. So it is important to embrace research and technology and the improvements they are capable of making to food production around the world. We must continue to work with international partners to ensure that a responsible, evidence-based policy is pursued as we develop the crop-cultivating technologies of the future. 2 | FOREWORD It is important to embrace research and technology and the improvements they are capable of making to food production around the world " " Dan Rogerson MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for water, forestry, rural affairs and resource management Foreword