Sunak: UK to Invest in Climate-Resilient Crops

Facts

• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking at the Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday, announced that the UK will set up a new science initiative to produce climate-resilient crops.¹
• Insisting that 'action' must be taken to 'address the underlying, and often unseen, causes of global food insecurity,' Sunak said that CGIAR — a global research partnership — will lead the new virtual science hub.²
• Under the initiative, British scientists will research the potential of flood-tolerant rice as well as disease-resistant wheat alongside other climate-resistant food sources.³
• As the government changes its approach 'to deliver in a changing world,' the UK will also release £100M ($125M) in humanitarian funds to states affected by food insecurity and climate change, including Afghanistan and Malawi.⁴
• Furthermore, Sunak launched a White Paper outlining the UK's long-term agenda to fast-track progress on eradicating extreme poverty, mitigating the effects of climate change, and achieving sustainable development goals by 2030.⁵
• The document said while overseas aid will remain at 0.5% of gross national income — after being reduced from 0.7% during COVID — until 'the fiscal situation allows,' the UK government is expected to allocate funds to help countries strengthen their defenses against natural disasters.⁶

Sources: ¹ABC News, ²Reuters, ³The Grocer, ⁴Independent, ⁵Business Post and ⁶Associated Press.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by The Telegraph. The UK has consistently shown itself as a leading advocate for resolving global food insecurity and is attempting again to rally the international community through London's summit. While current affairs are swamped with controversy and division of opinion, we must continue to come together in the face of global hunger, uncontrolled migration, war, and climate change to drive international development.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Guardian. 2023 is the fourth straight year of reduced UK development aid, spearheaded by Sunak's decision as chancellor to reduce the government's key 0.7% national income budget. Sunak and the Conservatives continue to move funds previously intended for international aid towards unethical domestic immigration policies. Using empty promises and rhetoric, the UK continues to take a step back from its humanitarian duties across the world.

Predictions