600 scientists from different countries gathered in the Netherlands for the first world food security conference. The organizers believe that this conference will be a step towards scientifically ending the uncertainties about meeting the food needs of future generations. However, it was stated that a scientific forum where researchers can share information has not been established so far.
It has been announced that the second food safety conference will be held in the USA in 2015.
Ken Giller, professor of plant production systems at Wageningen University in the Netherlands and co-chairman of the conference, said, “The main message of the conference was: The needs of the growing population etc. There are many estimates on the issues, but there is a great deal of uncertainty about the exact numbers at the moment.” said.
Giller continued: “It is estimated that the population, which is 7 billion today, should increase to 2050 billion in 9,2, while there should be a 70 percent increase in production. But the problem can be addressed in different ways. If we don't know exactly what the problem is, we don't know how to find a solution to it."
30-40 percent food waste
Professor Giller stated that when news of the conference first broke out, they received "unprecedented interest" from the scientific world.
Giller said that they expected 250-300 people to attend the conference, but 900 texts were delivered, and the conference's 600-person capacity quickly filled up.
Giller stated that the purpose of the conference was “to create a forum where people from different disciplines can come together and discuss the world food security problem”.
The professor stated that they estimate that 30-40 percent of the food produced today is not eaten and wasted.
The following topics were also discussed at the conference:
food safety
Sustainable intensification of food production systems
Finding new ways to feed 9 billion
Using agricultural products as raw materials for renewable energy
The conference, held in Noordwijkerhout in the south of the Netherlands, lasted four days.
The contribution of science is aimed
The organizers hope that the results of the conference will provide an opportunity for the scientific community to contribute to the United Nations' global food policy system.
One of the Millennium Development Goals set by the UN was to “eliminate extreme hunger and poverty by 2015” and to halve the number of hungry people between 1990 and 2015.
Evaluations on this subject revealed that this target is “achievable”. But the 2013 report on UN goals warned that one in eight people continues to be chronically malnourished.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he wants to set Sustainable Development Goals for the period 2015-30, which will build on the existing eight goals.
Ban's priorities include adapting agreed-upon goals to food and food security, supporting small farmers and food producers, and increasing the resilience of countries experiencing seasonal food crises.
Professor Giller said this gives scientists a great opportunity to advise governments and set policy.
source :bbc.co
📩 04/10/2013 23:20
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