A lecturer at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia, has called for the adoption of green technologies in food processing and preservation to achieve sustainable food security in the country.
Onwuka, a Professor of Food Science and Technology, made the call at the 10th Regional Food Science and Technology Summit held on Monday in Awka.
The summit with the theme “Sustainable Food and Nutrition Security in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects’’ was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), East-Central.
The sub-theme of the summit is, “Green Technologies in Food Processing for Sustainable Food Security.”
Onwuka described green technology as the use of science and technology to create, process and preserve foods to improve their nutritional properties and maintain the safety standards for a safer society.
According to him, Nigeria will overcome food scarcity and high costs of food if it harnesses the power of technology and embraces innovation.
“The significance of food processing cannot be overemphasised, as it directly impacts our health and safety. Consuming improperly processed food poses a grave risk to our well-being and even our lives.
“There is a pressing need for us to revolutionise our food processing techniques. Technology is at our disposal, and we must utilise it in our food processing practices to enhance the quality of our food and preserve our ecosystem.
“So, the way to go is the adoption of green technologies in food processing and preservation by individuals and industries to achieve sustainable food security and a safer society,” Onwuka said.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu described food security as a primary and first step towards the security of lives and properties.
Ikechebelu said the resolutions from the summit could help reduce the dependency on imported foods.
“In NAU, we recently laid a foundation of the food processing industry because we are aware of our role in the development of the society and without sustainable food supply, no society can develop,” he said.
NAN
