
Food Shortage Becomes Biggest Future Challenge: Director ICCBS
Muhammad Irfan Published March 09, 2021 | 07:00 PM

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Mar, 2021 ) :Food scarcity is one of the biggest challenges of the future and Global food insecurity is the leading threat in the developing world, said COMSTECH Coordinator-General, and Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary.
He stated this while speaking at the seminar on "Science Communication and Public Engagement" held at the COMSTECH Secretariat on Tuesday, said a statement.
He said that more than 820 million people in the world were still hungry in 2018. Science will help us to meet the challenges of the future and biotechnology is providing the building blocks for a sustainable future, agriculture, medicine, industries, environment, etc, he added.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA- Brief 55) was also launched in the seminar. COMSTECH Islamabad and Pakistan Biotechnology Information Center (PABIC) Karachi jointly organized the seminar.
Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik, Director of the Research, Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC) Forman Christian College, Lahore, Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, Director ISAAA SE Asia Center and ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, Senior Science Journalist Aleem Ahmed, and PABIC Coordinator Dr. Sammer Yousuf also spoke on the occasion. On the occasion, Prof Iqbal Choudhary also launched THE ISAAA Brief 55.
Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, who is also heading PABIC as director, said that more than 820 million people in the world were still hungry in 2018 which makes it difficult to achieve the Zero Hunger target by 2030. The world had suffered from a shortage of basic food, or faced hunger due to widespread famine, at least twice in short life span, he said Globally biotech crops have contributed to food security, sustainability, and climate change by increasing crop productivity and helping alleviate poverty through uplifting the livelihood of farmers and agriculture-related workforce, he observed.
Talking about science communication, he said that communicating science to the public was quite important, as fruits of human ingenuity could reach to people who need them the most.
Dr. Rhodora Aldemita showed serious concerns over the growing food insecurity in different parts of the world, and said that the massive global population required 70 percent more food.
She said, "Safeguarding food security and nutrition is critical in order for countries to overcome problems of hunger and malnutrition." The most adopted biotech crops by the 29 countries were soybeans, maize, cotton, and canola, she said, adding that farmers have a good opportunity to use a good variety of biotech crops. Globally, biotech crops' contribution to the world economy cannot be ignored at all, she observed.
Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik underlined the importance of biotech crops, and said that biotech crops were being globally adopted because of its enormous benefits to the environment, the health of human and animals, and contribution to the improvement of socio-economic condition.
Talking about the journey of biotechnology in Pakistan, he said that HEC had played pivotal role in terms of supporting biotech institutions in Pakistan. As many as 50 new biotech departments have been established in the universities of the country, he added.
Aleem Ahmed said that scientists and journalists were operating in two different isolated spheres, which showed that there was a massive gap between scientists and journalists.
Related Topics
Recent Stories

UN Says Alleged Use of Banned Landmines by Ukraine Should Be Investigated

Balochistan govt dismisses five doctors for not performing duties

Ukraine PM says EU-Ukraine summit to take place in Kyiv Friday

Pink Caravan Ride announces official routes for pan-emirate ride

Nigerian ex-senator accused of organ harvesting appears in UK court

64 held in combing operation by Rangers, police
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Bodies of 51 students, teachers recovered, five alive from tanda dam
2 hours ago -
India supporting terrorists operating from Afghan borders: Asif
3 hours ago -
Musadiq asks political consensus to weed out terrorism
3 hours ago -
GDA launches paid internship programme for graduates
3 hours ago -
PML Working Committee express confidence in Ch Shujaat's leadership
4 hours ago -
Vice Consul General of Iran visits Jam e Shifa Hospital
4 hours ago -
US Condemns Pakistan Mosque Attack That Killed, Injured Hundreds - White House NSC
4 hours ago -
Police submit details of cases against Fawad Chaudhry in LHC
4 hours ago -
64 held in combing operation by Rangers, police
4 hours ago -
Pakistan Pavilion wins "Best New Exhibitor" award at New York Travel & Adventure Show
4 hours ago -
PTI moves PHC for holding elections in KP within 90 days
4 hours ago -
Balochistan govt dismisses five doctors for not performing duties
4 hours ago
Education - Urdu News - Car Prices - Breaking News - English News - Live Tv Channels - Urdu Horoscope - Horoscope in Urdu - Muslim Names in Urdu - Urdu Poetry - Love Poetry - Sad Poetry - Prize Bond - Mobile Prices in Pakistan - PTV Sports - English to Urdu - Big Ticket - Translate English to Urdu - Ramadan Calendar - Prayer Times - DDF Raffle - Islamic Calendar - Events - Today Islamic Date - Travel - UAE Raffles - Travel Guide - Arabic - Urdu Cooking Recipes - Directory - Pakistan Results - Past Papers - BISE - Schools in Pakistan - Academies & Tuition Centers
UrduPoint Network is the largest independent digital media house from Pakistan, catering the needs of its users since year 1997. We provide breaking news, Pakistani news, International news, Business news, Sports news, Urdu news and Live Urdu News
© 1997-2023, UrduPoint Network
All rights of the publication are reserved by UrduPoint.com. Reproduction without proper consent is not allowed.