Action needs to be taken to ensure future food security, environment secretary Caroline Spelman and international development secretary Andrew Mitchell have said.

They believe that a collaborative effort must be made between government, the private sector and consumers to ensure the entire food system remains functional.

"We can unlock an agricultural revolution in the developing world, which would benefit the poorest the most, simply by improving access to knowledge and technology," Ms Spelman commented.

She emphasised that in order for the revolution to prove successful, global markets must be opened up to boost trade relations and enable reforms to help the poorest in society.

Tom MacMillan, executive director of the Food Ethics Council, recently said that more consumers are becoming interested in ethical foods as there has been a shift in attitudes over recent years.

He noted that there is a growing interest in where food is sourced from among the public.