Food science experts have highlighted the urgent need for innovative approaches to address food security challenges driven by population growth, climate change, and rising health concerns.
The call came during the opening ceremony of the technical paper presentation session organised by the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) on Tuesday in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Opening Ceremony, Mrs. Idiat Amusu described the session as a crucial moment to reflect on how to harness Earth’s resources to meet escalating food demands.
With the global population expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, Amusu warned that traditional farming methods alone would be insufficient to meet food production needs.
She emphasised the importance of developing new food systems, including alternative protein sources like insects and fermentation-derived proteins.
Biotechnology, she added, holds tremendous potential in producing eco-friendly, nutritious, and scalable protein sources.
“Food safety and traceability are essential in today’s digital age. Technologies such as blockchain, QR codes, and RFID tags can greatly improve efficiency, transparency, and accuracy across food systems,” Amusu said.
She called on food professionals to champion innovation, support food tech startups, and engage in academic research, while forging strong partnerships with government, industry, and farmers to create scalable solutions.
Amusu praised the summit’s focus on critical themes including food safety, biotechnology, and alternative proteins, urging participants to rise to the challenge of shaping a healthier, stronger nation through food science and technology.
Taiwo Ubani, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 11th Regional Food Science Technologies Summit, explained that the two-day event aimed to explore the future of food with the goal of ensuring a healthy nation.
Ubani noted that rapid advances in science and technology are bringing forward new ideas to meet the food needs of an expanding global population.
She stressed that traditional food sources will not suffice to fulfill future protein requirements, calling for frameworks to ensure the wholesomeness and safety of future foods.
The importance of regulatory standards for future foods, particularly those developed through biotechnology, was also underscored.
The summit featured presentations and discussions on diverse topics in food science and technology, contributing to shaping the trajectory of the food industry.
Ubani added that the outcomes would feed into a national conference where experts would further deliberate on advancing food science and technology in Nigeria.
