LONDON, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With a rapidly growing global population and mounting pressure on the globe's natural resources, the critical question facing governments and businesses today is: "How will we feed an increasingly hungry world in a sustainable way?"

Bringing together expert strategists, key opinion makers, government advisers and prominent scientists to address a wide range of issues, CropWorld Global 2011 will provide an integral platform for the crop production industry to debate this seemingly insurmountable challenge. Other topics being discussed include the constantly changing world of economic and political uncertainty; the roller-coaster global commodity markets and rising input prices. The event will also uncover and showcase the latest in technical innovations and R&D advancements from field to fork.

Held at London's ExCel Centre, it is the only event of its kind in the world to embrace all aspects of crop production to help the industry meet the challenges and rewards of increasing food production by more than 50% over the next 19 years and doubling production by 2050 to satisfy the world's growing population. This prestigious conference with its exhibition running alongside will also consider and debate how to meet those targets giving a background of rapidly rising demand and competition for energy and water.

Among the keynote speakers are:-

Professor Sir John Beddington CMG FRS, Chief Scientific Advisor to HM Government

Phil Bloomer, Director of Campaigns & Policies, Oxfam

Felix M'mboyi, Deputy Director, African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum

Cyrille Filott, Global Head-Europe, Food & Agribusiness Research & Advisory, Rabobank

Marco Ferroni, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation

Providing a unique educational and networking opportunity for all those engaged in the increasingly complex world of global food production, CropWorld attendees include top-end producers, those responsible for researching/purchasing safe, sustainable produce and ingredients, policy and decision makers, researchers and scientists, advisers and consultants, economists and industry specialists. It will enable delegates to share their experiences and views about the way ahead for this key industry as it endeavours to meet the increasing global demand for food, against a backdrop of increasing competition for scarce resources, rising costs and increasing constraints on water and energy.

"Our aim is to create maximum benefit to visitors, exhibitors and sponsors by delivering a world-class event which showcases the latest ideas, technology, techniques and crop intelligence," said Clare King, CropWorld Conference Director.

NOTES FOR EDITORS: CropWorld Global 2011, is being organised by UBM with the British Crop Production Council (BCPC). UBM uses its experience in overseas markets to complement and build on the annual CropWorld conference and exhibition by running regional events in key crop producing regions of the world.

http://www.cropworld-global.com

ABOUT UBM

UBM plc is a leading global business media company which informs markets and brings the world's buyers and sellers together at events, online, in print and provides them with the information they need to do business successfully.

UBM Conferences operates internationally across all UBM's divisions to bring its unrivalled content and thought leadership to marketers and business professionals across a wide range of markets.

Further details are available at http://www.ubm.com

ABOUT BCPC

BCPC promotes the use of science and technology in the understanding and application of effective and sustainable crop production. BCPC is a Registered Charity and a Company limited by Guarantee.

Further details are available at http://www.bcpc.org

SOURCE CropWorld Global