Food security is not seen as a major threat, although the impacts of climate change could change that perception as global food production is likely to be affected, according to a major report issued by the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit.

The report, Food: An Analysis of the Issues, looks at the issues surrounding food production and consumption in the UK, the implications for society, the economy and the environment.

Intended as a discussion document that does not represent government policy on food production, the report is thought likely, however, to influence policy direction and provide the basis for future consultations.

It says that the UK is in a strong position to access supplies from international markets because of it is a high income nation. But it also acknowledges that climate change will impact on global food production.

Impacts of climate change on agriculture include the possibility that 50% of the world's arable land may be unusable by 2050 because of soil degradation. Rising food prices are likely to continue as demand for biofuels increases scarcity and raises the price of animal feeds, the report warns.

Farming and the food industry as a whole, the report points out, makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas production at 18% of all UK emissions. Within the food chain, farming is the biggest single source of all emissions, producing over 50%. Waste from farming activity is also a major problem, producing 95m tonnes of the 115m tonnes from the food industry as a whole.

Livestock farming is singled out as a particular problem sector: "The full climate-related impacts of farming, and especially livestock and dairy, warrant much more attention - we need to look beyond CO2," it says.