Food science and technology versus world hunger

1. Food science and technology versus world hunger Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE Chair, External Affairs & Past President Institute of Food Science & Technology President Elect 2003-2006 International Academy of Food Science & Technology Member of IUFoST Governing Council 2003-2006 E-mail: jralphb@easynet.co.uk Web: www.jralphb.co.uk

3. UKFFoSTThe United Kingdom Federation for Food Science & TechnologyThe national federation of UK societies with interests in food science, food technology and food engineering

4. Food science and technology versus world hunger Institute of Food Science & Technology

5. Food science and technology versus world hunger IFST is the UK-based professional qualifying body of food scientists and technologists –independent, democratic, not-for-profit, self-governing, self-funding

6. Food science and technology versus world hunger totally independent of government, of industry, and of any lobbying groups or special interest groups

7. Food science and technology versus world hunger Who are our members? Individuals, not companies Elected in their personal capacities on the basis of their qualifications and experience Represent no-one but themselves Undertake to adhere to the ethical Code of Professional Conduct

8. Food science and technology versus world hunger The first of its four purposes is: to serve the public interest by furthering the application of science and technology to all aspects of the supply of safe, wholesome, nutritious and attractive food, nationally and internationally.

9. Norman Borlaug Nobel Peace Prize Laureate "the first essential component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind." (Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1974)

10. The role of science Huge scope for the application of science and technology as a tool to contribute towards improvement in the quantity and quality of the world’s food supply.

11. Food insecurity 840 million people were undernourished in 1998-2000, of which 11 million were in the industrialized countries, 30 million in “countries in transition” and 799 million in developing countries. Source: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, 2002

12. Food insecurity "Hunger" is a complex not only of lack of quantity but of inadequate quality i.e. the lack of non-staple foods with the necessary nutrients and micronutrients, and of clean water, that are essential for reasonable nutrition and health.

13. Food insecurity Increasing the supply of food crops is achievable in three main ways: by increasing the amount that is grown; by reducing pre-harvest losses to plant diseases and pests; by reducing the amount of post-harvest losses. Science has an indispensable part to play in all three.

14. Food insecurity Improving the nutrient and micronutrient quality of food crops can only be achieved by science, primarily by genetic modification.

15. Food insecurity Science cannot address or solve the problems created by poverty, infrastructure of countries, wars, politics, corrupt governments. Hunger and malnutrition in many parts of the world cannot be solved by science alone, but certainly cannot be solved without the use of science.

16. Food insecurity

17. The role of individuals Some food scientists and technologists in many developed countries, are working on projects for/within developing countries, either directly or supporting their former students who have returned there. Some in developing countries are working on projects within their own countries. Many have no opportunity to contribute in their working capacities.

18. IUFoST IUFoST is the “United Nations”-type international body in which member countries are represented by their national food science and technology bodies (termed “Adhering Bodies”).

19. IUFoST’s 1995 Budapest Declaration Opening quotation: “We declare our determination to work for the elimination of hunger and the reduction of all forms of malnutrition throughout the world. We recognise that access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is the right of each individual.”

20. IUFoST’s 1995 Budapest Declaration Opening quotation (cont.): “We also declare our commitment to work with all other organisations to ensure sustained nutritional well-being for all people in a peaceful, just and environmentally safe world. In this endeavour, we recognise the central role of food science and technology in ensuring the year-round availability of the quantity and variety of safe and wholesome foods necessary to meet the nutritional needs of the world's growing population.”

21. IUFoST’s 1995 Budapest Declaration BUT “Fine words butter no parsnips” (ancient proverb, circa 1639)

22. IUFoST’s Task Forces Three IUFoST Task Forces for ongoing contributions to minimising food insecurity: Distance education in sub-Saharan Africa Rural communities and agro-industries in India Minimising post-harvest losses

23. IFT International Division Symposium, Anaheim, 2002 Gustavo V. Barbosa-Canovas

24. The role of individuals Many such projects can be of direct value in helping to improve the supply of food and clean water in the relatively short-term. However, such projects exist in a piecemeal and uncoordinated way, and need to be collated and coordinated to deliver “added value”.

25. “Added value” measures? How can IUFoST and its adhering food science societies effectively contribute ongoing “added value” to the alleviation of a global problem that requires a complex of immediate (i.e. food aid), short-term and longer-term measures, and involving very much more than the role of science? ?

26. Collation and Co-ordination By collation and coordination on a world scale by IUFoST -- but only the individual adhering food science societies have the direct access and means to solicit their own members to input information about what relevant projects they are doing, into an IUFoST database. An IUFoST database?

27. An IUFoST Database? Rosa Rolle

28. An IUFoST Database? Resources to create and manage an IUFoST database? Is this type of information comprehensively on any existing database? No. Is there a database on a related topic?Yes. UN Food and Agriculture’s (FAO’s) INPhO.

29. INPhO Information Network on Post-Harvest Operations (INPhO) Modular mega-database run by FAO’s Agricultural and Engineering Services Department (AGST) Original scope widened -- covers production as well as post-harvest operations www.fao.org/inpho

30. IUFoST / FAO collaboration Discussions in Rome, April 2003 Agreement on a joint FAO/IUFoST module in INPhO on food science and technology projects in or for developing and transitional countries A win-win-win situation for FAO, for IUFoST and for the ultimate beneficiaries, people suffering from hunger and malnutrition Construction and preparations for launch

31. Role of Adhering Bodies But IUFoST has no direct connection with individual food scientists and technologists. Only its constituent national societies, have the means to solicit the necessary information from their own members about what projects they are doing. A major responsibility, challenge and task for all adhering bodies of IUFoST including SAAFoST.

32. Role of Adhering Bodies (cont) In addition to national bodies soliciting their members, they need to approach research institutions, aid agencies, university departments (not only food science but nutrition departments) and major industry research centres, in their respective countries. They can use templates provided by IUFoST. International aid agencies are being approached directly by IUFoST.

33. Benefits (1) For the first time, there would be organized worldwide knowledge of what scientists and technologists have been or are doing in relation to this crucially-important subject, and whereabouts in/for which developing countries.

34. Benefits (2) The IUFoST Task Force will be able to see where the gaps are and draw attention to them; could put individuals, who are unknowingly working on similar projects in different developing countries, in touch with each other; could possibly "broker" the application of projects that have been/are being successful, to other developing countries where they could also be relevant.

35. Benefits (3) Harnessing in an organized way the potential of food science and technology to contribute in this respect, could also enthuse and encourage potential new entrants to food science and technology courses to embark on the path to a profession that is seen to be taking such a stance.

36. BUT The benefits can only begin to be realised when the database becomes well-populated with projects. Although entries from researchers have begun, progress so far has been slow. A major effort by food science societies, universities and research institutions to encourage researchers’ inputs is urgently needed.

37. Benefits (Ultimate) A significant step to help those suffering from hunger and malnutrition and thereby contributing to fulfilment of the intention and promise of the Budapest Declaration

38. Norman Borlaug Nobel Peace Prize Laureate “When the Nobel Peace Prize Committee designated me the recipient of the 1970 award for my contribution to the "green revolution", they were in effect, I believe, selecting an individual to symbolize the vital role of agriculture and food production in a world that is hungry, both for bread and for peace. I am but one member of a vast team made up of many organizations, officials, thousands of scientists, and millions of farmers - mostly small and humble - who for many years have been fighting a quiet, oftentimes losing war on the food production front.” (Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, 1974)

39. JointIUFoST/FAO Databaseof food science and technology research projects relevant to the food needs of developing countrieswww.fao.org/inphoClick on “IUFoST” and follow instructions

40. Food science and technology versus world hunger Prof J Ralph Blanchfield, MBE Chair, IUFoST Database Task Force As from 11 Sept 05 this Powerpoint Presentation may be found at and downloaded from my personal Website www.jralphb.co.uk/FST_vs_hunger_SAAFoST_Sept05.ppt

41. 13TH WORLD CONGRESS OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WELCOME TO NANTES (FRANCE) 17 –21 September, 2006 www.inra.fr/iufost2006