Intensification of agriculture in a sustainable way was essential along with improving communication, said Dominic Dyer chief executive for Crop Protection Association.

Increasing productivity was a major concern, but in order to gain public support for this, the industry needed to communicate better with the public.

Recruiting talented people in public relations would be crucial to sending the correct message, he said.

Mike Bushell, principal scientific advisor for Syngenta said opening trade bottle necks was important. “No single country can grow everything it needs, so trade is vital.”

Changing unhealthy western diets to reduce consumption and continuing work on crop protection was valuable as well as increasing agricultural productivity.

Yield depended on better seed, technology, fertiliser and agrochemicals. Technolology was part of the solution, but not the only part, he said. “Firms need to work together to give practical solutions to farmers worldwide.”

Genetic improvements to crops through plant breeding would have the biggest impact, said Douglas Kell from BBSRC. “My big ideal is plants with big roots to save the planet.”

These would improve efficiency of water and nutrient uptake, sequester large volumes of carbon, producing higher yields sustainably. “Scientific research is the only way we can do this.”