A COMSTECH official underscored the need for introduction and use of new technologies and better management to tackle food security faced by the OIC states. “Agricultural biotechnology will help in producing enough food to end hunger,” COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary said at the conclusion of the three-day “Youth Forum on Biotechnology”. At the forum, participants from home and abroad deliberated on the importance of biotechnology in all spheres of life. The event was arranged by COMSTECH in collaboration with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, Türkiye and the Islamic Organization for Food Security, Kazakhstan.

Prof Choudhary said the forum could play a key role in addressing the challenge of food security. He stressed the need for use of emerging technologies to tackle food security. He said agricultural biotechnology would help produce enough food. The speakers highlighted the significance of biotechnology and described it as a landmark achievement without which green revolution could not be possible. The forum was inaugurated by President Dr Arif Alvi. Ambassadors of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Palestine, Somalia, Qatar, Iraq and Uzbekistan attended the event. The speakers urged young scientists to work hard and come up with innovative ethical and moral solutions for humanity and quickly adopt new technologies for the rapid growth of the developing world. “COMSTECH should take the lead in the prompt adoption of emerging technologies in the OIC region,” they said.

Those ahead in OIC states should come forward and provide leadership for changing attitudes towards the adoption of new technologies to achieve success in all spheres of life, the speakers said. IOFS Director Dr Ismail Abdel Hamid said biotechnology is critical for human development and food security. He said this forum would help explore new avenues, generate novel ideas and methodologies to understand biotechnology and promote its use to address food security. Dr Hamid presented a brief review of the IOFS programme and projects.

Sami Serdar, CEO of Young Business Hub, Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum, expressed solidarity and prayed for the recent flood victims in Pakistan. He said, “today we are here for youth that want a big change for the better future.” He said technologies are playing an important role for the betterment of human life and biotechnology is playing an important role in our daily life to address global issues. Serdar suggested a united effort with solid and continued commitment. This three-day forum was attended by more than 170 participants in person, whereas many people from 35 OIC member states attended it online. More than 30 local and international scholars presented lectures during this forum.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk