Hyderabad: GITAM Celebrates World Food Day
GITAM School of Science in Hyderabad commemorated World Food Day, an annual event organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, on October 16, 2023. The event focused on the theme of “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind,” shedding light on the challenges faced by 2.4 billion people in water-stressed countries and 600 million individuals reliant on aquatic food systems.
Dr. Pushpajeet Choudari, Manager-CRAL, RFFS-Landscapes, Soil Fertility and Water Management at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), delivered an invited talk on “Soil and Water Management for Climate Resilient Agriculture.”
The talk emphasized the importance of sustainable water management and highlighted collaborative water sharing, community engagement, and training and awareness as key strategies. Dr. Choudari also shared insights from a study that demonstrated how the cultivation of millets can contribute to groundwater recharge and improve water use efficiency in India’s northern plains.
Guest of honor, Jayalakshmi.B, an entrepreneur in agriculture, shed light on the need for diversification in food production. She emphasized that out of the half a million plant species on our planet, only 30,000 are grown as food, with just four crops – Maize, Wheat, Rice, and Soya – catering to 60 percent of human consumption. She stressed the importance of diversifying our food sources to ensure resilience in the face of climate change.
The event was conducted with the support of Dr Dattatri K. Nagesha, Principal, School of Science. Prof. Uma Maheswari Kodi, Head, Department of Food Science and Technology (FST), inaugurated the event and delivered the welcome note. Dr. Parul Thapar, coordinator of the program, concluded the event with a vote of thanks. On this day, the Department of Food Science and Technology also planted Malabar neem trees in the campus.
World Food Day serves as a platform to mobilize global action for agrifood system transformation. GITAM School of Science remains committed to raising awareness about the challenges facing our food system and promoting sustainable solutions through research, education, and community engagement.
