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Climate change

OIC Calls for Urgent Scientific Collaboration to Combat Global Food Crisis

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the global food crisis reaches alarming proportions, with over 2.3 billion people facing food insecurity, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for urgent scientific collaboration among its member states to combat hunger, climate shocks, and agricultural decline. The stark warning came from Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, who emphasized the dire state of nutrition and food systems in OIC countries, where over 203 million people are undernourished. Speaking at an international symposium on sustainable agriculture and climate change, Prof. Choudhary called for a united front in science, technology, and innovation to tackle food insecurity and climate vulnerabilities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 2.3 billion people worldwide face food insecurity, with 733 million experiencing hunger in 2023 and nearly 864 million enduring extreme food deprivation.
  • In OIC nations, 11.2% of the population lacks access to adequate nutrition, with over 203 million people undernourished.
  • COMSTECH has conducted climate-resilient agricultural programs in Niger, Uganda, Benin, and Somalia, with further sessions planned in Indonesia and East Africa this year.
  • COMSTECH's youth-centric programs aim to empower the next generation of scientists and agripreneurs in OIC states, including leadership and industrial training in sustainable agriculture, food safety, and biotechnology.
  • Research fellowships and regional capacity-building projects, such as the Halal Products Testing Programme, are enabling countries to improve nutrition, trade standards, and scientific infrastructure.
  • The third COMSTECH Biotechnology Youth Forum will take place in Dhaka this September, spotlighting frontier technologies like CRISPR to enhance crop resilience and food security.

Statistics:

  • 2.3 billion people worldwide face food insecurity
  • 733 million people experienced hunger in 2023
  • Nearly 864 million people endured extreme food deprivation
  • 11.2% of OIC nations' population lacks access to adequate nutrition
  • 203 million people in OIC countries are undernourished

Sources:

  • Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH
  • The International Symposium on "Sustainable Agriculture for Food and Nutritional Security under Climate Change Scenario" held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi
  • The Sindh Innovation, Research, and Education Network (SIREN)

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