ECOSF partnered with FCC University to host International Conference on Mitigation and Adaptation for Climate Change
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ECOSF partnered with Forman Christian College University (FCCU) to host International Conference on Mitigation and Adaptation for Climate Change, Focused on Agriculture and Food Security in Lahore, Pakistan on February 6-9, 2023. The purpose of this international conference was to provide a forum for the leading international researchers, scholars, and scientists of the region to exchange their research ideas and share ways of combatting climate change and its impact on the food systems in the region, especially in Pakistan. A large number of international and national climate change experts, food security and agricultural researchers and representatives of leading research institutions participated in the International Conference. President ECOSF Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi was especially invited as the Chief Guest in the inaugural ceremony.
Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdullah Malik, the Dean of the Post Graduate Studies at the FCCU delivered his welcome note in the inaugural session. Prof. Malik emphasized that climatic crisis around the globe has been an increasing and alarming threat to world’s ecology. He further added that Pakistan faces acute risks in terms of agricultural and food security with climate concerns, including erratic rainfalls, receding of glaciers, abrupt floods, drought years, a decrease in the capacity of water reservoirs and an increase in food insecurity. Hence, this International Conference would bring forward scientific and technical recommendations on addressing the food security challenges.
Rector FCCU Dr. Jonathan Addleton in his remarks underlined that the innovative and multi-disciplinary research on climate change and food security in the region is important to identify effective mitigation and adaptation strategies. Dr. Addlelton also encouraged the participating scientists to contribute to pragmatic research solutions on irrigation practices and technologies, drainage water management, and tools for sustainable agroecosystem management.
Prof. Seyed Komail Tayebi as the Chief Guest of the event highlighted that climate change is a serious global threat, and it poses complex challenges for sustainable development for our future generations of the ECO reigon. Prof. Tayebi underlined that the biggest challenge the ECO region faces today in terms of food security is the availability of freshwater resources. He recognized the fact that water resources are becoming increasingly scarce as a result of population growth, urbanization, industrial development and changing lifestyles and diets, constraining capacities for effective adaptation to climate change and jeopardizing the sustainability of many ecosystems. Hence, it requires integrated solutions and the need for expertise in climate risk management and climate change adaptation for resilient development of the ECO region, he added. Prof. Tayebi further encouraged the participating experts to use this Conference as a platform to identify and suggest the most important, most suitable, and innovative Climate Sciences solutions to address Food Security and Water challenges that can contribute to reducing future climate risks in the ECO Region.
Dr Mahaletchumy Arujanan the Global Coordinator of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) and the Executive Director of Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC) also delivered her talk on Science Communication as an approach for effective climate action. A number of other high-level delegates and representatives of WWF Pakistan, Asia CABI and 4B Group also contributed to the inaugural session of the international conference.
It is important to note that ECOSF facilitated the participation of Iranian experts from the Iran in this international conference. The delegates from Iran included representatives of Iran and Isfahan Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Minerals and Agriculture, including Mr. Muhammad Sadeghi, Director, Isfahan Agricultural and Water Strategic Research Center ICCIMA; Dr. Roja Kianpour, Head of Agriculture Department, National Agriculture and Water Strategic Research, ICCIMA and Dr. Zahra Zamani, Director of Economic Research Center, Isfahan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Iran.