A REPORT ON THE 41ST LUCRID WEBINAR

Post by: bankole
November 7, 2023
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The 41^st LUCRID webinar with the theme, “Impact of Climate Change on Food Systems: Using Transdisciplinary Science to Drive Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions to Protect and Promote Health“, was held at the University’s International Exhibition Centre (IEC) on Wednesday, 31^stMay, 2023. The webinar started about 11:15a.m and lasted till 12:41 pm.

Following an opening prayer from the HoD, Agriculture, Dr. E. T. Alori and the University Anthem coordinated by the Centre for Systems and Information Services (CSIS), the 41^stLUCRID Webinar series had a fly opening with addresses from the Director LUCRID, Dr A. O. Dada, giving the prologue of the webinar and the Team Lead, SDG 13, Dr. Reuben Okocha gave the address of welcome and encouraged the participants to make the most of the webinar. Afterwards, the Vice Chancellor, Landmark University, Prof Charity O. Aremu in her remarks, gave an insightful presentation on how to use transdisciplinary science to drive mitigation and adaptation of food systems to climate change. She further stressed that the theme of the webinar did not only capture SDG 13, but also SDGs 1, 2 and 12. The Vice Chancellor further stated that climate change is responsible for vagaries in weather and in turn affects food sustainability and as a result must be addressed through interdisciplinary approach.

The guest speaker Prof. Anet Režek Jambrak, a seasoned scholar and researcher, took the floor to speak virtually on the webinar theme, following the reading of her citation by DR. B. S. Fakinle.

Prof. Jambrak commenced the presentation by briefly introducing the University of Zagreb, Croatia and her Faculty (Faculty of Food Science and Biotechnology). She stated that if food losses and waste were to be a country, it would be the 3^rd biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. She stated that it is high time we started thinking of sustainable ways of doing things rather than conventional ways. Also, Prof. Jambrak elucidated on the various interventions, systems, interaction among the systems and outcome on food security and human health.

The presenter further itemized various ways embraced by small and medium enterprises, on one hand, in mitigating the effect of climate change. These include: waste management and recycling, renewable energy and energy efficiency, low carbon product and services, sustainable use of land and forestry, among others. On the other hand, she stated that climate change adaptation can be achieved through climate-resilient production, efficient use of resources, biodiversity conservation, etc. Energy and water conservation, education and upskilling, and climate-smart infrastructure were identified with potential to simultaneously bring about climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Sustainable food cycle encompasses production, processing, distribution, consumption and recycling. Prof. Jambrak showed the vast difference in greenhouse gases that are produced across various food types with beef (beef herd) with the highest carbon footprint and cane sugar as the least.

She further stated that less than 10% of the world’s largest food companies are aiming to reduce their emissions in line with climate science while less than 13% are taking sufficient action to eliminate forced labour. Prof. Anet listed upscaling sustainable practices and phasing out unsustainable practices as the building blocks in the transition pathways towards sustainable climate-resilient food systems.

Prof. Jambrak concluded by saying that strategies on education and preparation of innovative trainings to address the quick change happening in the food industry will contribute to mitigation and adaption of our food systems to climate change.

At the end of the presentation, comments were received from the founder and executive director, Climate Smart Agriculture and Youth Network, Mr. Divine Ntiokam, while the guest presenter responded to questions from the participants. This was then followed by a webinar appraisal by Dr. S. A. Oyekale, a closing remark by Prof. M. O. Bamiro and a vote of thanks by the Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences, Dr. O. O. Olayinka. The webinar drew its curtain at 12:41 pm with a closing prayer by the Head of Programme, Crop and Soil Sciences, Dr. O. T. V. Adebiyi. Thereafter, a group photograph was taken to mark and celebrate the day.