Scheme aims to help feed the world

The Global Food Security project will bring together Government departments, executive agencies and scientists to research how enough food can be produced without destroying the environment.

Professor John Beddington, the Government's chief scientist, said there was "the potential for a full food security crisis" and said new science and a fresh approach to food was needed.

The United Nations estimates 1bn people do not have access to safe and nutritious food and estimates production must rise by 40 per cent in the next 20 years and 70 per cent by 2050.

A spokeswoman said research plans would be made public in the summer and would run alongside plans for domestic food security, Food 2030.