Copyright thehindu
Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted, nutrition expert and winner of the 2021 World Food Prize, has called for a people-centred approach to food systems that can “nourish both people and planet.” Dr. Thilsted, who is currently Director for Nutrition, Health and Food Security Impact Area Platform, CGIAR, was speaking on ‘The role of science and technology in transforming food systems’ at the International Conference on Agrarian Change organised by the Foundation for Agrarian Studies (FAS) which opened at Kovalam here on Thursday. In her speech, she underscored the need to work towards dietary diversity by leveraging seasonality of foods for guaranteeing availability and affordability, and combining novel technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) with traditional knowledge in agriculture. “Using big data and AI without the integration of indigenous knowledge and practices, we are missing out a big part of the knowledge that we have to ensure that our food systems nourish people,” Dr. Thilsted said. She also emphasised the importance of a circular economy and upcycling of food systems in the way forward. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, whose pre-recorded inaugural speech was played at the venue, described the Kerala government’s November 1 declaration on the eradication of extreme poverty as one that held “utmost historical significance.” “It is the culmination of a process that began with the renaissance movement and the comprehensive change in agrarian relations,” Mr. Vijayan said. The State government emphasises the inculcation of scientific temper in school and university syllabi, he added. S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), underlined the importance of leveraging the advances made in science and technology for progress in the agriculture sector. The profound economic, technological, geopolitical and environmental shifts at the global level have reshaped rural societies and agricultural systems in India and other developing countries, he said. He also underscored the need for adaptation measures in the farm sector with respect to climate change. Luciano Rezende Moreira, Professor, Federal Institute of Rio de Janeiro, drew parallels between the agricultural systems of India and Brazil. He noted that, in both countries, it is the need of the hour to reconcile technological advancement with environmental preservation, reducing the dependence on chemical inputs and deforestation. Cao Duc Phat, former Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam; Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group; economist Madhura Swaminathan, State Planning Board Vice-Chairman V.K. Ramachandran, and FAS director Sandipan Baksi, also spoke. The international conference, which is on till November 9 at Hotel Uday Samudra, brings together economists, planning experts, agronomists, sociologists and environmental scientists, policy makers.
