Events

20 Sep 2013|Noida | Amity University Campus Sector-125 Noida

Food Security is a Global problem – opine experts during a talk at Amity University

Food Security is a global issue and has been a topic of discussion across the world. Whether it is a developing economy or developed economy, food security has been always in prime agenda in every Global meet. To give an exposure on this burning issue to Amity University Students, an interaction was organized with Dr. David Shorr, Programme Officer – Stanley Foundation USA and Mr. Rei Tang, Asst. Programme Officer – Stanley Foundation USA.

Dr. Gurinder Singh, Group Addl. Vice Chancellor – Amity University, Dr. W. Selwamurthy,President – Amity Science Technology & Innovation Foundation, Dr. Sunil Saran, Chairman - Amity International Centre for Post Harvest Technology& Cold Chain Management, Dr. Tanu Jindal, Director – Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology, Safety & Management were present during the interaction.

Addressing the students of Amity University, Dr.David Shorr, Programme Officer – Stanley Foundation USA said that world is facing problems like climate change, health & sanitation, economy etc and food security is also big shared problem which is part of the global concern.Today world is shrinking and there is not a single problem which we can restrict to single country. India, due to its huge coastal areas, is widely affected with problem of climate change. Dr. Shorr said that food security is matter for great concern for India and that is why Government of India had recently launched Food Security Act. Dr. Shorr shared that around 820 million people sleep hungry globally and around 220 million children is not able to celebrate 5th birthday due to malnutrition. Speaking on price rise, Dr. Shorr said that price rise is linked with global food prices and poor economies are affected by constant global price rise.

Mr. Rei Tang, Asst. Programme Officer said that the world is changing in terms of how world power is distributed. It is no longer a world, where western European power or USA decide about the world affairs. Now the power is shifting towards Asia and the influence of India is increasing. Speaking about Stanley Foundation was founded in 1956 to promote public understanding, constructive dialogue and cooperative action on critical international issues.

Dr. Sunil Saran, Chairman - Amity International Centre for Post Harvest Technology & Cold Chain Management said that India stands 24th in Global Hunger Index and if any country touches 30, it means that country is facing with acute food shortage. Food and nutrition is critically getting attention amongst all countries of the world. Dr. Saran said that if post harvest losses can be controlled than the issue of food scarcity can be solved. Around 25-40% of food is lost due to lack of post harvest technologies. What India looses in 1 year is equal to the entire consumption of United Kingdom for a year.

Scientists, Faculty members and students of Amity University were present during the interaction.