Bangor land expert to join Council of Food Policy Advisers

Professor Gareth Edwards-Jones, professor of agriculture and land use at Bangor University, is the only Wales-based member of the high-level group.

He will advise the Government on all aspects of food policy and said he hoped to ensure the voice of the farming community was heard.

"The main challenge the world faces is to produce the extra food the growing world population will need without causing major damage to the earth's environment."

Professor Edwards-Jones' research interests include food production, carbon accounting, policy and the environment and the economics of conservation.

Environment secretary Hilary Benn chose the 14-strong membership in December 2008. It is headed by former Food Standards Agency deputy chairman Dame Suzi Leather.

Other members are Sir Don Curry, who heads up the Government's drive for sustainable farming and food strategy, and Sue Davies, policy adviser for Which?

Food-policy academics Dr Liz Dowler, Professor Tim Lang and Stefan Tangermann join the group along with National Trust chief Dame Fiona Reynolds.

Benn said: "With rising prices and increasing demand across the globe, we can't take food supply for granted.

"Our food supply needs to be reliable and resilient and able to withstand shocks and crises. It must remain secure.

"And we must have a strong, thriving, environmentally sustainable farming industry in this country that continues to produce a significant proportion of our food.

"The team will draw in expertise on every aspect of our food system, giving advice from the farm to the fork. It is time for a more strategic approach to food policy."