Professor Paul Behrens speaks at National Emergency Briefing: Reforming UK food systems isn't just imperative, it's an opportunity

8 December 2025

Professor Paul Behrens (British Academy Global Professor at the Oxford Martin School) recently delivered evidence at the UK’s first-ever National Emergency Briefing on the climate and nature.

Professor Behrens was one of nine experts invited to speak to an audience of over a thousand MPs, senior civil servants, industry bosses, and civic leaders about the urgent need to reform the UK food system - and the diverse benefits this would bring for farmers, the public and nature.

" Professor Paul Behrens

Many of the collapses of civilizations through history have been driven by climatic impacts on food. We ignore this lesson at our peril.

Professor Paul Behrens