FSC in Dialog: "Tackling Food Security in the Middle East"

Dr. Nahla C. Houalla, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut, presented the current state of food security in the MENA region at the “FSC in dialog” lecture series in Hohenheim on June 22nd, 2014 under the title "Tackling Food Security in the MENA Region: An Integrated Approach to Policy, Education, and Research".
The MENA region is facing its most significant societal challenges in achieving food security. Demographic pressure, climate change and evolving diets and consumer preferences are placing strain on already scarce land and water resources. The multi-dimensional issue of food security demands pragmatic solutions that address the main four pillars of food security (agricultural production, economic access, nutrition and food safety, and resilience). Instead, regional public policies to promote food security have tended to be scattered, narrow and short-sighted, imposing high costs and achieving poor results. Dr. Hwalla proposed a new approach to tackle the different dimensions of policy, education, research, and innovation to address key societal challenges.