Climate change and the future of food security

Professor Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has an illustrious list of former employers including NASA, the World Bank and the White House.

As a former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and an active voice on the issue of the Earth’s climate, he is recognised as a leading speaker on the subject.

During the talk, Professor Watson will discuss how changes in climate could affect food production across the world and what that might mean for the global population.

The talk is part of the Shaping the Future series and will be held on Wednesday 3 November at 6.15pm in the Xfi lecture theatre on the University’s Streatham Campus.

It will also be shown via a live videolink at the University’s Tremough Campus, Cornwall, in lecture theatres A and B of the Daphne du Maurier building.

The talk is freely open to the public, but those wanting to attend should register in advance by contacting Margaret House-Hayes on 01392 725769 or email events@exeter.ac.uk

Professor Watson’s current role for Defra involves providing ministers with the best possible scientific advice and ensuring science informs policy decisions. He also supports the UK Government’s scientific work on minimising the effects of climate change.