This session will explore the power and promise of science to improve food security. In November 2009, the Royal Society published the report of its study on biological approaches to enhance food-crop production. It presents a balanced assessment of the challenges to world food-crop yields, the different biological approaches that could be used to enhance supplies, and their likely consequences and impacts. Global food security is rapidly rising on the political agenda. The United Kingdom's chief scientific adviser warned in 2008 of a "perfect storm" of food shortages, scarce water, and insufficient energy resources which threaten to unleash public unrest. In the face of increasing population and climate change, questions over food supplies are of utmost urgency. Specific problems will require specific solutions, drawing on a diverse range of scientific research and technological possibilities.