The University of Ibadan will give further support to the Integrated and Circular Technologies for Sustainable city region FOOD systems in Africa (INCiTiS_FOOD) Project.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Aderonke M. Baiyeroju gave this assurance at the opening of the second General Assembly of the Project Consortium in Ibadan.
Professor Baiyeroju observed that since food system is a prime socio-economic and nutritional issue in African cities, it was heart warming to know that the project combines multidisciplinary experts from the European Union and Africa to proffer strategies to improve food and nutrition security in city conditions.
She said this would be done through a careful planning of waste cycling in aquaponic, hydroponic and insect production systems in soiless substrate with a bid to overcome the environmental and social issues associated with traditional agriculture and fish production in a city environment.
Professor Baiyeroju who declared the General Assembly open on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, appreciated the Consortium for choosing the University of Ibadan as the host of the event.
She stated that the University of Ibadan had hosted many international conferences and assemblies of great scholars who had aligned well with the goals of the University, ‘to be a frontier of knowledge and foster societal development’.
The Principal Investigator and Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee Dr. O.O. Oyebola thanked the university management and other stakeholders for their support in ensuring the success of the event.
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He said that the General Assembly would enable experts in food systems from across the European Union and Africa to further discuss the way forward in disseminating innovations on improved food systems in African cities.
According to Dr. Oyebola, food security is under threat in Africa due to various factors such as political, climatic (drought, global warming), increased cost of agricultural production, unstable pricing, internal/external conflicts and insecurities while lack of access to land for aqua-agronomic practices has also added to the challenges.
The Consortium Lead, Professor Gertrud Buchenrieder, reiterated that the Project would help improve the food/nutrition systems in the participating countries.
She appreciated the European Union for funding the project and assured that the Consortium would justify the confidence reposed in it.
She disclosed that the Project began over a year ago in Kenya and participants have met virtually every week and have held capacity building programmes that have lasted 2-3weeks.
Professor Buchenrieder said the General Assembly would enable the Consortium to consider its achievements so far, what needs to be achieved, identify the challenges, and proffer solutions.
Goodwill messages were given to the participants by the Dean of the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Professor Adejoke Akinyele; the Dean of Students, Professor A. I. Abiona; the Deputy Director of Agriculture in Ibadan North Local Government, Mr Makinde Munir; and the Head of Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Professor Flora Olaifa.
Participants at the 5-day workshop came from Ghana, Italy, Serbia, Cameroon, Switzerland, Kenya, Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, Gabon, and Sierra Leone as well as from Aglobe Development Centre, Lagos, another partner in the Consortium and co-host of the 2024 General Assembly.
INCITIS_FOOD partners UI on improved food system; holds 2nd General Assembly of the Consortium
[…] READ ALSO: INCITIS_FOOD partners UI on improved food system; holds 2nd General Assembly of the Consortium […]