Working Groups

IUFoST Food Security Task Force

LET'S WORK TOGETHER
We invite and encourage each of our Adhering Bodies to nominate one or more˜activists' from among your membership to serve in this IUFoST group and involve you in this crucial work of global importance.

Please provide your representative/activist name(s) to IUFoST c/o v.mcintyre@iufost.org so we can provide you with details of the Food Security members' only area.

More information on how our Adhering Bodies will be involved is available here

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Food Security  "the role of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST)"

IUFoSTs Mission Statement: Strengthening global food science and technologyfor humanity

Background

• IUFoST is invited by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FA0) to participate in the Heads of States meeting in Rome, Italy, June 2008 to develop plans for combating food insecurity
• IUFoST initiates efforts in ICSU (International Council of Science) to work with other international unions to promote Health and Wellbeing through inter-disciplinary effort and projects
• The Sub-Saharan Africa-based IUFoST Distance Education pilot project is aimed at sustainability through education at the factory level  the DE modules are adaptable for other regions in the world
• IUFoST Case Studies in Using Food Science and Technology to Improve Nutrition and Promote National Development – this handbook shows how the application of food science and technology has improved nutrition and promoted national development in developing countries. It is freely available and an ongoing publication effort
• Dr. Catherine Bertini, Former Executive Director of the World Food Programme and World Food Prize Laureate is chosen as IUFoST Distinguished Lecturer for the IUFoST World Congress in 2006 and Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, founder of Indias Green Revolution and World Food Prize Laureate is chosen as the IUFoST Distinguished Lecturer for the IUFoST World Congress in Shanghai, October 2009.
• At the IUFoST 14th World Congress, October 2008, focus was directed at food security through a variety of activities.

 

IUFoST has the international credibility, the stature among other international organizations, the background and focus to lead efforts for food science and technology in improving food security for all. This cannot be done by IUFoST alone. IUFoST is forming alliances and working closely with UN agencies, other professional societies and unions, and NGOs. More importantly, the efforts require the activism of all national representatives of the IUFoST Federation around the world. IUFoST has taken the following first steps to galvanise the IUFoST community:

Discussion with the IUFoST Global Community

IUFoST, in identifying its role in providing leadership and resources in addressing the problem of food security, began with an Internet discussion organized prior to the 14th World Congress of Food Science and Technology. Renowned experts in the field, including Drs. M. S. Swaminathan, Philip Nelson, and Ismail Serageldin, were invited to provide challenges in addressing food security to the food science and technology community. Members of the Adhering Bodies and the leadership of IUFoST were invited to participate in the on-line discussion. The outcomes of this discussion were then addressed at an open forum at the Congress in Shanghai and referenced in a number of symposia and in the address of the IUFoST Distinguished Lecturer, M.S. Swaminathan.

A summary report and list of recommendations for actions were then prepared to serve as a starting point as IUFoST begins formulating its response to food security issues and also to address IUFoSTs commitments in the BUDAPEST DECLARATION, which was adopted at the IXth World Congress of Food Science and Technology, Budapest, Hungary July 30 - August 4, 1995:

We, the delegates to the 7th General Assembly of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), in reference to the Joint FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition (Rome,1992) and its World Declaration on Nutrition, declare our determination to work for the elimination of hunger and reduction of all forms of malnutrition throughout the world. We recognize that access to nutritionally adequate and safe food is the right of each individual. We also declare our commitment to work with all other organizations to ensure sustained nutritional well-being for all people in a peaceful, just and environmentally safe world. In this endeavor, we recognize the central role of food science and technology in ensuring the year-round availability of the quantity and variety of safe and wholesome foods necessary to meet the nutritional needs of the world's growing population.(for full text see Budapest Declaration

Formation of the Food Security Task Force

The IUFoST Governing Council, through the office of the President, determined that a Task Force must be formed. Its mandate is to review recommendations and lead IUFoST actions in the global community, both within the Union through its Adhering Bodies and Academy Fellows and outward-looking through strategic alliances with other international organisations working towards the same goals. The Task Force was given its mandate in January 2009.

Task Force:

Chair: Professor Dr. Ing. Dr. h.c. Walter Spiess

Vice Chair Dr. David Lineback

Members: Professor Colin Dennis

Professor Joseph Hulse

Professor John Lupien

Hon. Prof. Ruth Oniango

Dr. Philip Nelson

Dr. V. Prakash

Dr. M.S Swaminathan

Dr. Patrick Wall

Invited: Prof. Estrella Alabastro, Dr. Catherine Bertini, Dr. Ismail Serageldin

Most particularly, everyone within IUFoST will be called on to work alongside the Task Force in introducing, maintaining and improving existing programmes and developing others for those in need globally. Each Adhering Body will be asked to nominate an activist to spearhead the work for the national body. Every Fellow will be asked to apply his or her expertise to move the work forward and all those now or in the past in governing positions within IUFoST, and other working groups will be asked to focus efforts on the needs as defined.

 

Report to the Adhering Bodies, International Academy, Task Forces and Working Groups

In February 2009, all Adhering Bodies, International Academy Fellows, Task Force and Working Groups will be informed of IUFoSTs first actions. They will be asked to become actively involved in the execution of the Task Forces recommendations, and to continue to provide advice and solutions during the course of the development and execution of the IUFoST action plan.

Reports to International Bodies, IUFoST Associates

United Nations colleagues, ILSI, ICSU, CGIAR and others will be invited to participate and they will be consulted as the Task Forces work progresses.

Progress Reports to the Union

Reports from the Task Force to the Union will occur every six months.

IUFoST President's Message on Food Security

Challenge Statements: Nelson, Serageldin, Swaminathan