Technology Can Boost Nigeria Food Security – Don

The former Dean, College of Food Sciences, Postgraduate School, Bells University of Technology, Ota, argued that focus on education and energy was key to addressing poverty and hunger in the country.

Speaking during the launch of the ‘Eat Lancet Commission’ report organised by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, in Abuja on Wednesday, the food expert called for consumption of healthy foods, including nuts and legumes which he said provided the necessary nourishment for children and adults.

Ogunmoyela, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Food Journal said, “Nigeria needs to focus on education and energy which can help in solving most of the challenges we have. With energy in place, we can address the problems facing food production while education will empower the people. There was a good reason why God made light (energy) first before creating other things.”

The Senior Agriculture Economist, Economic Growth and Environment Office, United States Agency for International Development, Dr Charles Iyangbe, said Nigeria must scale up food productivity to avoid food insecurity by 2050.

According to him, while the population was growing at 3.2 per cent annually, food production was pegged at 2.5 per cent.

GAIN Country Director, Dr  Michael Ojo, said the private sector was critical to solving the problem facing the food sector, stressing the need for more investment in food systems and healthy diet.

 Ojo pledged that his organisation would continue to work closely with multiple stakeholders, including the government, the private sector, civil society, local and international development partners and consumer groups to understand and adapt planetary healthy diet in a way that helped to drive sustainable interventions and solutions in the wider food system.

He added, “Nigeria, like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa faces considerable systemic challenges and in order to tackle these challenges, Nigerians must be able to choose better diet options that are underpinned by considerations for the impact of food production on human health and on environmental sustainability.”

Source: Punch