US-NIGERIA ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ON FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY

PLATEAU STATE COMMISSIONER FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION ATTENDS US-NIGERIA ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE ON FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY The Plateau State Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof (Assoc) Goselle Obed Nanjul actively participated in the prestigious US-Nigeria Round Table Conference on Food Security and Safety, held on the 7th and 8th of October 2024 at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja. The conference, which focused on the theme “Experiential Learning and Business Opportunities in Food Security and Safety: The Nigerian and US Experiences,” brought together key stakeholders from USA, Nigeria and other West African countries. Convened under the broader initiative, “Collaborative Approach to Enhance Food Production and Quality to Improve Food Security in West Africa,” the event aimed to foster cooperation and knowledge-sharing between Nigeria and the United States to tackle food security challenges across West Africa. With a focus on improving food production and safety standards, the round table provided a platform for agricultural experts, government officials, researchers, and business leaders to discuss innovative solutions to food security issues, particularly in the West African context. In the whole, the aim was to find solutions on how to ensure that the 313.2 million insecure people in Africa get food secured. Prof Umezuruike Linus Opara, a Distinguished Professor of Post-harvest Technology and Executive Director, UNESCO International Center for Biotechnology, Nsukka, Nigeria gave a Keynote address, elaborating on "The Experiential Learning and Business opportunities in food security and safety" _ The Nigerian and US experiences The program also featured discussions and technical papers presentation on different related topics including "food security and climate change : contemporary issues and mitigating measures"; "effective national and international collaboration/partnership in global food security among other topics. Experts from Nigeria and the US shared their experiences and insights, focusing on practical ways to boost food production and improve the quality and safety of food products. They noted in particular that processing of agricultural products earns higher than production and consumption and therefore encouraged the need for Africa to embrace technology that could help them benefit more from their toils. In addition, the discussants noted certain setbacks to achieving food security and safety in Africa to include certification, testing, poor record keeping, legislation, soil assessment, water quality, livestock management, sanitary facilities, post-harvest storage, investment policy etc. The round table event was seen as a significant step in fostering stronger ties between Nigeria and the US in the area of food security and safety. It also opened up avenues for business collaborations, with participants exploring investment opportunities and potential partnerships to drive agricultural innovation in Nigeria and West Africa at large. As food security remains a pressing issue in the West African region, the conference underscored the critical role of science, technology, and collaboration in creating resilient agricultural systems and securing a sustainable food future for West Africa. _Kantak Kumven Zion Personal Assistant to the Honorable Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Plateau State