Lagos: Stakeholders at the Nigeria Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) conference have called for stronger collaboration among government, academia, and industry players to tackle food insecurity. They said this during the NIFST (FIIRO Zone) biennial conference on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the conference, themed ‘Hand in Hand for Better Foods and Better Future’, emphasized the need for a collective approach to food security. In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the event, Mr. Emmanuel Egbedeyi, Managing Director of LWG International, highlighted the importance of safeguarding the future through food security. He urged leaders, innovators, researchers, and advocates to unite in advancing food quality and ensuring a brighter future for coming generations.
Egbedeyi stressed the need for collaboration across disciplines and sectors, noting that the theme ‘Hand in Hand’ serves as a call to action. He emphasized the importance of cluster innovators forming synergies to create knowledge-based solutions for food security and called for government intervention to bridge gaps between research, industry, and markets.
Dr. Folashade Adeboyejo, a lecturer from the University of Ibadan, advocated for the preservation and commercialization of indigenous crops. She emphasized the need for efforts in conserving and integrating these crops for surplus and sustainability. Citing her research on the African star apple, she demonstrated the potential of underutilized crops to become commercially viable products.
Dr. Silvanus Ogbor of Soleta Foods Nigeria Ltd. shared his company’s efforts in mentoring young entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. He underscored the importance of collaboration over isolation and called for more training and capacity-building initiatives to address food insecurity.
Mr. Solomon Oyeniran, Chairman of the NIFST (FIIRO Zone) Local Organising Committee, highlighted the conference’s focus on collaboration and shared responsibility for food security. He noted the division of the conference into sub-themes focusing on startups, entrepreneurship, and building resilience through biodiversity.
The conference also featured entrepreneurs and exhibitors showcasing organic and agro-based products, emphasizing the importance of branding and product development to meet international standards and contribute to shared prosperity.