Some food science experts have stressed the need for innovative solutions to tackle food challenges posed by growing global population, climate change, and increasing health issues.
They said this during the opening ceremony of the technical paper presentation session organised by the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Opening Ceremony, Mrs Idiat Amusu, said the session was a call to reflect on ways to harness the resources of the earth to meet food challenges.
Amusu said the global population was projected to hit 10 billion by 2050, stressing that the traditional farming system would not be able to meet the demand for food production.
She emphasised the importance of developing new food systems, including alternative protein sources such as insects and fermentation-derived proteins.
According to her, biotechnology can play a vital role in meeting the demand for food production by developing eco-friendly, nutritious, and scalable food protein sources.
“Food safety and traceability are crucial in the digital age. Digital tools like blockchain technology, QR code, and RFID tags can significantly enhance efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in food systems.
“As food professionals, we must pursue innovative solutions, support food tech startups and academic research.
“It is also crucial of us to partner with governments, industries,and farmers to develop scalable solutions that can shape a healthier and stronger nation,” she said.
Amusu commended the summit’s sub-themes, which addressed issues such as food safety and traceability, biotechnology, and alternative protein sources.
She urged participants to rise to the challenge of shaping a healthier and stronger nation through food science and technology.
Also speaking, Taiwo Ubani, the Local Organising Committee Chairman for the 11th Regional Food Science Technologies Summit, said the two-day programme was aimed at discussing the future of foods with a focus on ensuring a healthy nation.
Ubani noted that with the rapid advancement of science and technology, new ideas were emerging to address the challenges of feeding a growing global population.
She emphasised that traditional foods would not be sufficient to meet the needs of the future population, particularly in terms of protein requirements.
Ubani stressed the need for templates to be put in place to ensure that future foods were wholesome and safe for consumption.
She also highlighted the importance of regulatory bodies having standards in place to capture and regulate future foods, especially those developed through biotechnology.
Ubani noted that the summit had featured paper presentations and discussions on various topics related to food science and technology.
She added that the summit was part of a larger effort to shape the thoughts and direction of the food industry, with the ultimate goal of promoting a healthy and sustainable food system.
Ubani said the outcome of the summit would contribute to the national conference, where experts would come together to discuss and shape the future of food science and technology in Nigeria.
NAN
