The recent session at the NIFST Lagos Chapter Meeting, hosted by the Mainland Zone, provided valuable insights on strengthening food security through collaboration between academia and food businesses.
Dr. Abiodun O. Adebayo-Oyetoro delivered an engaging presentation on the topic “Strengthening Food Security: The Collaborative Roles of Academia and Food Businesses in Food Defense.”
She began by explaining what food security means: consistent access to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food for everyone; children, adults, and the elderly, at all times. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) which targets food sufficiency for all by 2030. However, hunger is still on the rise, with over 343 million people facing acute food insecurity across 74 countries, and projections showing that this number may rise to 600 million by 2030 if nothing is done.
However, food security depends on four key areas: food availability, access, utilization, and stability. These cannot be achieved in isolation; collaboration among stakeholders, especially academia and food businesses, is crucial.
The speaker emphasized that while food safety focuses on preventing accidental contamination, food defense is about protecting our food from deliberate harm; like sabotage, terrorism, and ideological attacks. She explained that food defense, according to the FAO, is the protection of the food supply from intentional acts meant to cause harm. These threats can come from outside the organization or even from trusted employees.
She gave examples like using unapproved additives prepared at home or spreading false rumors to bring down competitors. While accidental contamination results from negligence or equipment failure, intentional contamination is motivated by malice or competition. That’s why food defense strategies, like TACCP (Threat Assessment Critical Control Points), are needed, alongside regular safety checks and strict hygiene protocols.
On the impact of food defense on food quality, she stressed the need for locked storage, clear labeling, and clean handling. Quality, she said, should be viewed in terms of nutrition, safety, and appearance. Consumers often judge food first by how it looks, not by how safe or nutritious it is.
Dr. Abiodun O. Adebayo-Oyetoro urged everyone to stop random tasting at markets and instead build trust with one vendor for traceability. “If anything happens, you will know where it came from,” she said.
The Role of Academia in Food Defense Includes:
• Research on food safety and technology.
• Training future food scientists.
• Promoting public awareness and bridging the gap between science and practice.
• Sharing knowledge and discoveries openly for the benefit of all.
The Role of Food Businesses Includes:
• Strict food safety measures and risk assessments.
• Staff training on hygiene, suspicious behavior, and food handling.
• Investing in traceability technologies.
• Securing transportation and storage of food products.
• Keeping cleaning chemicals away from production areas to prevent mix-ups.
Collaboration is key. Academia and industry must partner in research, training, and data sharing. Even small businesses must work with regulators instead of avoiding them. “Don’t hide from NAFDAC or SON. Work with them,” she advised.
Benefits of Collaboration Include:
• Improved food safety.
• Greater consumer trust.
• Economic growth (e.g., better export opportunities).
She mentioned past failures, like the rejection of Nigeria’s yam and grain exports due to chemical residues, and stressed the need for better standards if we want to grow globally.
Challenges to this collaboration include poor funding, weak regulatory enforcement, and communication gaps. But these can be solved with openness, the use of social media, and a shared sense of responsibility.
In conclusion: The speaker reminded everyone that “Food security feeds the population; food defense protects what feeds us.” Both must go hand in hand. A safe, resilient food system requires science-driven, tech-enabled, and collaborative efforts between academia and the food industry, especially in this era of climate change, pandemics, and global instability.
Guest Speaker Dr. Abiodun O. Adebayo – Oyetoro Delivering Her Lecture on Strengthening Food Security: The Collaborative Roles of Academia and Food Businesses in Food Defense.
Finance Team.
Vote of Thanks Done by Mrs. Komolafe Olagoke Olasumbo.
Members at the Meeting.
Mainland Zone Co-ordinator – Mr. Femi Akinwande.
Cross Section of Yabatech Students @ the Meeting.
Members of the High Table.
Cross section of Fellows at the Meeting.
How I would have loved to be there.
This is really insightful
Thank you