The goal of this international meeting is to highlight the importance of food and agriculture systems in the fight against climate change, and to present concrete and multisectoral solutions for addressing this global issue.
Quebec City was the centre-staged recently as it hosted hundreds of persons from across the globe to delve further in an issue that has increasingly been preoccupying scientists, researchers, policymakers, academia, industry and civil society – that of Food and Nutrition Security, with particular emphasis on Climate Change. Representatives from these groups not only aired alarming trends and concerns, but also shared where positive inroads were being made and proposed potential solutions.
Titled “The International Symposium on Food Security and Nutrition in the Age of Climate Change”, the event was conceptualized during the Marrakech Climate Change Conference late last year when the Premier of Quebec made a strong commitment to the Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Planned and executed by the Government of Quebec with local partners such as the University of Laval, the 3 day event was an unqualified success.
Plenary presentations and workshop discussions as well as testimonials and displays explored themes such as Food Systems in the face of Climate Change, Combining Climate change mitigation and adaptation and Feeding Cities. PROCINORTE’s NORGEN Task Force was well represented by way of the Canadian and Mexican member who presented in the session on “The Preservation of Natural Resources and Genetic Material: A key element in the fight against Climate Change”. These presentations were well received, highlighting the role of genetic resource management and preservation in food and nutrition security. A notable highlight was the attention awarded to the food insecurity in Northern Canada. Researchers, Non-Government Organizations and First Nations persons registered the dilemma being faced and shared some of the innovative solutions being applied. Another valuable take-away point reinforced throughout the meeting was the inestimable role of women in assuring food and nutrition security.
The Symposium went to lengths to demonstrate the partners’ commitment to environmental sustainability and social consciousness by several original and commendable actions such as providing name tags which can be planted to yield basil plants, hosting a paperless conference, minimalist meals and donation of savings by way of some 4000 meals to schools in Madagascar.
For further information, please see : www.mrif.gouv.qc.ca/en/salle-de-presse/evenements-speciaux/colloque-san
