International Experts Speak at Food Security Conference

Aug. 22, 2021

Human beings need to eat. As global population climbs, biodiversity reduces, and climate change affects crop growth, humans may soon need to change the way they eat to ensure a sustainable future. A recent webinar series hosted by the Science Health and Engineering Policy and Diplomacy Initiative at the University of Arizona featured panels of global experts speaking about modern food security challenges and solutions. The two sessions were chaired by Biosphere 2 deputy director for research Cherry Murray and hosted by David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the College of Engineering.

“When I talk to high school students about science and engineering careers, I always talk about the big societal problems that we need them to help us solve,” Hahn said. “At the top of my list is always ensuring a safe, plentiful and affordable food and water supply to a growing world population – notably so in times of more extreme climate events, such as the current severe drought in the American Southwest.”

Part 1: Global Food Security Challenges

The first webinar featured the following panelists, speaking about some of the greatest food-related challenges our world is facing today. James L. Buizer, founding director of the Arizona Institutes for Resilience and professor in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, served as moderator.

Watch the recording.

Mohamed Hassan

President, The World Academy of Sciences; Vice-Chair, the Scientific Group, United Nations Food Summit 2021, Trieste, Italy

Robin Fears

Biosciences Programme Director, European Academies Science Advisory Council, London, England

Elizabeth Hodson de Jaramillo

Professor Emeritus, School of Sciences of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia

Sheryl Hendriks

Director of the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-Being, Professor of Food Security, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Part 2: Global Food Security Solutions

In the second session, a new group of panelists spoke about their projects to help combat global food insecurity.

Watch the recording.

Jeff Silvertooth

Associate Dean and Director, Extension and Economic Development, University of Arizona

Moti Harari

Flowers and Garden Plants Head Researcher, Negev-Arava Research & Development, Israel

Joel L. Cuello

Professor, Agricultural-Biosystems Engineering and the BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona

Kimberly Ogden

Department Chair & Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona