Lord Ewen Cameron, the first head of the Countryside Agency, has launched an attack on the movement behind food security, doubting the issue’s credentials.

Cameron cast doubt on suggestions that the UK’s demand for food could outstrip its ability to produce it, with global water shortages resulting in mass shortages.

He said: “Over the past 30 years the number of people in the world who are starving has dramatically reduced, and it will continue to reduce. The world’s ability to feed itself is getting better - and our ability to transport food is helping in that.

“There will undoubtedly be blips, but there is no reason why there should be massive starvation. Population growth peaked 30 years ago and is now slowing dramatically. We live in a world market place and our scientific ability to increase food production will keep pace with the population growth and changes in food consumption."

The current concerns mounting over the amount of food UK consumers waste has led Cameron to suggest “there is a lot to be gained by better apportionment of supplies. All we’ve got to do is farm and consume a bit more efficiently".

But British farmers expecting to see dramatic rises in profitability are likely to be sorely disappointed, he claimed. “The economies are in our favour but, frankly, over the past 10 years, apart from 2008, when food prices blipped, profitability of farming has been pretty bad, and most farmers are getting quite desperate.

“It is unlikely that a world shortage of food will produce a major hike in returns for British farmers - and even if food prices do rise from time to time, there is a very strong possibility that politicians will step in and prevent us from benefiting. There are more voters and consumers than there are farmers, and low food prices are more beneficial for politicians, so don’t get too excited,” he added.

Lord Cameron is to speak at a prestigious one-day seminar on food security and land use on November 3. Organised by the Royal Bath and West of England Society and the Royal Geographical Society, the seminar will bring together world-renowned experts in their fields to offer an insight into some of the problems and solutions relating to future sustainable land use in rural areas.

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