ILSI India Scientific Conference on “CoCSI- Climate Smart Initiatives for Nutrition & Food Security: Agriculture, Food Processing, Nutrition and Diet”
New Delhi, India
13/11/2024
9:30 am – 3:30 pm
HYBRID MODE
INTRODUCTION
Climate change is the most critical challenge facing all aspects of Life globally and scientists across the world are devoting attention to finding solutions. Floods, Droughts and rising temperatures accompanied by spread of pests and diseases are a matter of concern. Some estimates show that by 2100, 40% of the world’s land surface will have to adapt to new challenges thrown by climate change, agricultural production may fall by 2% per decade through 2050 while at the same time food demand will rise by 14% per decade. Further, higher level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere may reduce nutrient content / quality of various crops.
Meeting the challenges posed by climate change and ensuring food and nutrition security, requires action on demand side as well as supply side. While such agricultural practices will have to be adopted which will deal with problems of drought, quality of crops and conservation of precious resources (land, energy and water), adoption of efficient and green technologies in food processing, use of bio-degradable packaging materials, checking post harvest losses, availability of cold-chain, discovery of alternative sources of protein and adoption of climate friendly dietary practices will be crucial.
ILSI India has been devoting attention to various aspects relating to climate change and has organized number of activities. Most recently it organized a Roundtable on LIFE-Lifestyle for Environment (2022) and sponsored a Status Paper on Global Initiatives to Reduce Post-Harvest Food Losses and Wastage (2024).
The Conference on Climate Smart Initiatives for Nutrition & Food Security: Agriculture, Food Processing, Nutrition and Diet was another effort by ILSI India to look at the initiatives that can be taken in different sectors to deal with issues associated with climate change and to promote sustainability across the value chain from Agriculture to Food Processing to Consumers.
OBJECTIVES
The focus of discussion was on Agriculture, Food Processing and Packaging and Nutrition and Dietary Habits. More particularly the Conference:
· Discussed Agricultural practices and technologies which can promote sustainability while balancing productivity and nutrition.
· Identified Green Technologies for promoting food safety and nutrition.
· Presented new developments in Alternative Proteins.
· Looked at Industry initiatives on Sustainability.
· Explored Dietary practices for mitigating GHGes and challenges in implementing these practices.
Compendium of Abstracts and CVs can be downloaded from: https://tinyurl.com/2ca7emhy