Scientific Program

Conference Series Ltd invites all the participants across the globe to attend 2nd International conference on Food Security and Sustainability San Diego, USA.

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Scientific Program Day 1
Scientific Program Day 2

Day 2 :

Keynote Forum

Ali M Nizamuddin

University of Illinois Springfield, USA

Keynote: The patenting of life, limiting liberty, and the corporate pursuit of seeds

Time : 10:05-10:40

Conference Series Food Security 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Ali M Nizamuddin photo
Biography:

Ali M Nizamuddin is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois Springfield. He has received his PhD from Columbia University in International Relations. His dissertation examined the impact of market risks on investment patterns and the bargaining interaction between multinational corporations and host governments over the life cycle of an investment project. His research has been published in numerous academic journals including the Journal of Pacific Affairs, Asian Journal of Social Science, the International Social Science Review and the Encyclopedia of International Political Economy.

Abstract:

Throughout world history, what human beings ate was determined by what local producers cultivated and what they planted was determined by seasonal cycles. Some seeds that could withstand harsh weather were planted in the fall while most seeds were planted in the spring. After the harvest, farmers reclaimed the seeds so that they could replant them the following season. Today, however, these age-old practices that guided countless generations are becoming extinct. What we eat, the quality of our food and even the tastes that we develop are dictated by powerful corporations who are driven by the profit motive. My book entitled “The Patenting of Life, Limiting Liberty and the Corporate Pursuit of Seeds” investigates the corporate dominance of the world’s seed supply. The seed is nature’s gift and the first link in the food chain. This life form is becoming the exclusive intellectual property of the corporation. The advent of genetically modified seeds and strict patent protection accorded to them enable companies to own the seed even after the farmer has bought, planted and harvested the seed. Multinational corporations have a monopoly control over seeds and the accompanying pesticides which is leading to monocultures in the food system and the disappearance of traditional methods of farming. Local producers are forced to buy seeds each year, thereby fostering a feudalistic relationship of perpetual dependence. An imbalance of power has emerged and farmers are transformed from producers to consumers by these new arrangements. The leap to embrace biotechnology and genetically modified foods has been quite swift and conducted without the public’s knowledge. The food that our stomachs ingest may be increasingly bad for us. Case studies from four developing countries are presented for consideration.

 

Keynote Forum

Francis R Samonte

University of the Philippines, Philippines

Keynote: The global nutrition transition & climate change in the Philippines: A double burden phenomenon
Conference Series Food Security 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Francis R Samonte photo
Biography:

Francis R Samonte is an academic Pediatric and Adult Neurologist and Public Health Nutrition Specialist. From 1998 to 2010, he was a Clinical and Basic Neuroscience Fellow at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School with special concentration on cognitive sciences and later as a Research Fellow in Human Brain Development in children with neuro-developmental disabilities. He has completed his Clinical Fellowship at Harvard institutions and inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa honor society at Johns Hopkins University where he studied Neurobiology and Regulatory Affairs. For the past 5 years, he has researched into food security, nutrigenomics and cognitive functional outcomes across the lifespan of diseases in the Philippines. He is currently on Faculty at the University of the Philippines where his primary focus is on nutritional cognitive neurosciences and climate change/food security.                                                                            

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The challenge of globalization has led to dramatic changes in food security, most especially in much of the developing nations. Globalization has played a central role in altering the access and availability of foods in developing nations through liberalization of food markets and the dynamic of transnational food companies spanning across the world. This dynamic change has created a nutritional transition or a dietary shift in lifestyle leading to higher levels of food security but also adversely caused increased rates of nutritional deficiencies and childhood obesity. Furthermore, climate change has greatly affected food security in many low lying nations. Environmental changes have led to chronic risks of food production and supply. Macronutrient and micronutrient deficiency is widespread in many developing countries affected by climate change. This burden of nutrition transition and climate change has clear socioeconomic implications that threatens the survival of the cultural dietary values and status in the Philippines; where economic development and climate change has come together to present a unique phenomenon.

Methodology: Data from the Philippine government agencies (Philippine Statistical Authority and Food and Nutrition Research Institute) related to nutritional, agricultural output and poverty were obtained spanning from 1990-2015. Features of the data included but not limited to the following: Demographic data (age, income, education, urban/rural), topographical data (coastal vs. inland), anthropometric measurements and nutritional survey (caloric density).

Conclusion & Significance: In the element of food security, the double burden of nutrition transition and climate change presents itself as a crossroad in the current challenges in the Philippines. The problems of obesity, malnutrition, declining quality of agricultural production create a difficult and volatile socioeconomic status that requires further assessment and careful national planning.

  • Food Security and its Nutritional Impact | Effects of Environmental Stress on Food Security | Global Food Security: Ethics, Policies and Role of Governing Body | Community Development for Food Security: Economic and Social Status | Food Security and Risk Assessment | Food Security and Sustainable Development | Global Trade Liberalization: Impacts on Food Security | Food Security and Environmental Changes in San Diego | Emerging Technologies for Food Security | Food Security and Agricultural Revolution
Speaker

Chair

Christopher Bryant

University of Montreal, Canada

Speaker

Co-Chair

Steven Worth

University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Session Introduction

Christopher Bryant

University of Montreal, Canada

Title: The challenges of periurban farmland in developed and developing countries for food security: The new realities of climate change and variability

Time : 14:00-14:25

Speaker
Biography:

Christopher Bryant has almost 50 years of research experience in peri-urban agriculture (France, Canada and other countries) and 26 years research experience in adaptation of agriculture to climate change and variability as well as 30 years’ experience in community development. He was a Professor in Geography, University of Waterloo for 20 years and Professor in Géographie, Université de Montréal for 24 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph, Canada.

Abstract:

Food security deals with issues of food quality, sustainable agricultural practices and accessibility to impoverished populations. In many developed countries, many large cities are surrounded by high quality farmland resources in temperate climates (e.g., in North America and Western Europe). A rapidly emerging reality is the differential impact of Climate Change and Variability (CCV) on farming in different areas and the need for appropriate agricultural adaptation to CCV and the need for appropriate agricultural adaptation to CCV. In many developed countries, appropriate adaptation can maintain food production levels even though crop composition may change. However, in many developing countries (e.g., in North and West Africa) existing climate conditions and CCV can reduce peri-urban areas’ ability to contribute to national and local food security. Two challenges are: (1) Short of reversing CCV, many developing countries will become more dependent upon food imports from developed countries and so we need to ask what does this imply for developed countries? (2) And this increases the need to conserve farmland resources in developed countries, a real challenge given the continuing urban development pressures. How can agricultural management and development planning in such areas integrate food security both locally and internationally and conserve their farmland resources? This is illustrated using a number of pertinent examples from different countries.

Anup Sharma

Alabama A&M University, USA

Title: Standoff Raman detection of economically motivated adulteration in food

Time : 14:25-14:50

Speaker
Biography:

Anup Sharma is a Professor of Physics at Alabama A&M University, USA. He holds MS degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and PhD from Columbia
University. His research in lasers and optics encompasses several areas including fabrication of chemical sensors. In recent projects funded by DHS and NSF, he has developed a technique for detecting adulteration in food from a distance of several meters. He has guided several PhD students and is a recipient of a Career
Award from the National Science Foundation.

Abstract:

Contamination of food within the supply chain can have far reaching consequences which include large-scale disease epidemics as well as loss of consumer confidence in the supply chain itself. The nature and source of contamination can be diverse and include bacteria, agrochemicals, industrial wastes and chemicals used in food processing. Food contamination can be accidental or a deliberate act of terror. Clearly, no single technique can be responsive for detecting all of these contaminants in the food-supply chain. A standoff Raman technique has been developed by us to detect economically motivated adulteration in common food items like olive oil, honey and flour. Unlike the traditional Raman approach, this technique remains largely unexplored for food sciences applications and has the potential to detect food contaminants/adulterants which could be toxic or laced with biological pathogens from a safe, non-contact distance of several meters. The technique is thus important for field and forensic applications needing minimum sample preparation protocol. Using a 785 nm Raman spectrometer coupled to a small telescope, the technique was characterized for standoff distances in the range of 1-10 meters and for typical concentrations of 1-10% used in economically-motivated adulteration. Adulteration of extra virgin olive oil with canola and grape seed oils was detected from near-contact and standoff distances up to 1 meter. Depending on the distance, the sensitivity for detecting adulteration was 2-5%. Likewise, feasibility of detecting adulteration of honey with high-fructose corn syrup and rice syrup was demonstrated. Adulteration in other food items like milk and flour was also investigated. For its potential for field application in the area of food security, the technique was demonstrated to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at the US-Canada border in Champlain, New York.

Griffiths G Atungulu

The University of Arkansas, USA

Title: Rice microbial community responses to drying by 915 MHz industrial

Time : 14:50-15:15

Speaker
Biography:

Griffiths G. Atungulu is an Assistant Professor of Grain Process Engineering in the Food Science Department at the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture. His education has been in agricultural engineering with research specialization in grains process engineering. He holds Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya and MS and PhD degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Iwate University, Japan. Presently, his program is focused on engineering effective strategies to maintain grain quality and prevent mycotoxin development.

Abstract:

The typical convective heated air-drying methods for rice are not metered to inactivate harmful fungal spores that produce mycotoxins. Some mycotoxins such as aflatoxin are highly toxic and present health hazards to grain consumers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of utilizing microwaves (MW) at 915 MHz frequency to achieve rapid rice drying and decontamination of aflatoxigenic fungal spores. Medium-grain rough rice (cv. CL721) at initial moisture content of 23% (w.b.) was dried using a 915 MHz industrial MW set to transmit energy at power levels 5, 10 and 15 kW for 4, 6 and 8 minutes and for rice bed thicknesses 5, 10 and 15 cm. Inactivation of the afaltoxigenc fungal spore (Aspergillus flavus) and other bacteria across the bed thickness was studied. For the studied range of processing conditions, aflatoxigenic fungal load was reduced by 2.75 log CFU/g and anaerobic bacterial load was reduced by 3.00 log CFU/g, respectively. Microbial loads were significantly affected (p<0.005) by increasing specific energy input; increasing rice bed thickness up to 15 cm had negligible effects on microbial load reduction and variability among the rice layers. This work showed that MW drying of rough rice, especially using the 915 MHz frequency, holds promise as a rapid drying method with potential benefits of microbial decontamination; this may help grain producers combat fungi related problems such as those resulting from mycotoxin contamination, especially aflatoxin, a highly toxic and known carcinogen.

Norbert Maroya

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

Title: Production of basic seed yam tubers using vine cuttings from Aeroponics

Time : 15:15-15:40

Speaker
Biography:

Norbert G. Maroya is an Agricultural Engineer specializing on plant breeding with a Ph.D. from the Department of Botany, University of Ghana Lagon. His areas of expertise includes seed project management, seed systems development, seed quality control and certification, foundation seed production, breeder seed maintenance, seed industry development, and seed marketing, among others

Abstract:

The initial experimentations on yam propagation in aeroponics system were successful leading to production of tubers and bulbils on both D. alata and D. rotundata species. Planted in AS, virus-free and endophyte-clean plantlets from the Temporary Immersion Bioreactor System developed successfully with 95% survival. The harvests of tubers in aeroponics boxes were done every three to four months. The number of tubers harvested per plant varied among genotypes and the age of the plants with an average of 3.1±0.1 tubers. In addition to the tubers some plants produce bulbils. The third type of planting material generated from yam in aeroponics system is the one node vine cuttings. After 9-12 months of development plants generate on average 300 one-node vine cuttings. The vine cuttings are rooted in pots in nursery and developed new leaves between 3 to 4 weeks. They are transplanted to field at the density of 1m X 0.25 m where more than 92% of the rooted plantlets developed with vigour and produced after 6 months various sizes of tubers depending of the varieties. Among the white yams, the biggest tubers average of 1.6kg were recorded up to 30% of the tubers of TDr95/19177 while the smallest tubers average of 30g were recorded in large number 32% among the tubers of TDr95/18544. In the same growing condition the TDr 89/02665 has generated 47% of mini tuber weighting on average 83g against 5% and 97g for TDr 95/19177. Between the water yam varieties TDa 98/01176 produces 1% and 35% of ware and big seed weighting 1.3kg and 480g against 4% and 48% with 1.2kg and 535g respectively for TDa 98/01166.

James Stukes

South Carolina State University, USA

Title: The analysis of aflatoxin levels in corn obtained from South Carolina farms

Time : 15:40-16:05

Speaker
Biography:

James B Stukes is an Associate Professor of Biology and Biology Program Coordinator for the Department of Biological and Physical Sciences at South Carolina State University, USA. He has received his PhD in Microbiology from Atlanta University, USA. He has served as the Principal Investigator for several grants, written various publications and presented his work at numerous conferences. He was named University Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Young Man of America, served as a Member of the Governor’s Mathematics and Science Advisory Board and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He currently serves as a Co-Principal Investigator of the Evans-Allen 1890 Food Safety Research Grant funded by the USDA.

Abstract:

The mold Aspergillus grows on a number of raw food commodities producing highly toxic compounds known as aflatoxins. These compounds can cause developmental and immune system suppression, cancer and death if ingested. Crops contaminated with aflatoxins can result in losses to the U.S. corn industry ranging from $52.1 million to $1.68 billion annually. Because of the harm these toxins pose, a food safety survey was administered to SC farmers. The results indicated that of the 190 farmers surveyed, 58% reported they never heard of it, 26% revealed they somewhat knew about it, while only 16% definitely knew about. The aim of this study was to determine the aflatoxin levels in corn obtained from farms in South Carolina. Aflatoxin levels were measured using a fast and convenient method involving the Vicam test reader. Five grams of corn were weighed, blended and transferred into an extraction tube containing 25 ml of 70% methanol. The mixture was vortexed for 2 minutes and filtered. One hundred microliters (100 μl) of the extracted sample were mixed with 100 μl of Afla-V dilute contained in an eppendorf tube. The samples were mixed well for 10 seconds using a vortexer. The sample mixture was then placed on the Alfa-V test strip for 5 minutes and inserted inside the Vicam test reader. Two of the samples collected from the six farms indicated readings of 58.40 ppb and 89.15 ppb. These numbers were 2.34 and 3.57 times higher, respectively, than the recommended 25 ppb established by the USDA.

Break: Networking and Refreshments Break 16:05-16:20 @ Cortez Foyer

Steve Worth

University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Title: The elusive search for sustainable food security

Time : 16:20-16:45

Speaker
Biography:

Steve Worth is an Associate Professor of Extension and Rural Resource Management and Academic Leader in Teaching and Learning in the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), South Africa. He is also the Director of the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) at UKZN, South Africa. For 13 years, he has worked in agricultural extension and development in the North West province of South Africa. Since 2001, he has been serving as an academic involved in teaching, research and community in agricultural extension, curriculum development, rural development and food security. He has also consulted with various international and South African agencies, writing and editing books and training materials, drafting policy for agricultural extension,agricultural education and food security and developing agricultural curricula.

Abstract:

Food security and sustainability are concepts that are perhaps two of the most over-worked, over-used concepts in development. They have virtually become empty words. Agencies throughout Africa have initiated programs and projects ostensibly to create sustainable livelihoods or to ensure sustainable food security but which in reality achieve neither in the long run. SADC, for example, has extensive infrastructure to monitor food security vulnerability. However, there is no agreement on the indicators or approaches to measuring vulnerability. Further, the recommendations are all grounded in humanitarian relief including grain imports and stimulating production (e.g., through input subsidies). This paper suggests some fundamentals are not sufficiently understood or accommodated in policy and project planning that prevents achieving sustainable food security. First it suggests contextualizing food security in the broader aim of advancing populations toward prosperity and well-being understanding more starkly what food security is and what it is not. Linked to this is the need to review responses to human issues along a spectrum of relief, project development, systems and institutions and vision-led human capacity development. This paper then suggests that the underpinnings of what makes things sustainable need to be examined. It concludes that while food security is important, it is but one milestone on the pathway to prosperity and not an end unto itself. The paper also concludes that no matter how well relief and development projects are designed and implemented; they do not and cannot address the root issues bedevilling achieving a permanent, widespread sustainable food security. Achieving an enduring solution will require substantive changes in social and political norms, structures and systems, working from the ground up as well as from the top down. And it will require pervasive building of human capacity, particularly, but not exclusively, building capacity at the level of the farmer and the household.

Beatrice Anim Aighewi

International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nigeria

Title: Progress in enhancing yam productivity in West Africa through sustainable availability of high quality seed

Time : 16:45-17:10

Speaker
Biography:

Beatrice Anim Aighewi is an agronomist and Yam Seed Systems Specialist in the “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa” project of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria. She has completed her PhD in 1998 from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria after an MSc from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. She has lectured on different aspects of Agronomy at the University of Dschang, Cameroon and University of Abuja, Nigeria. Her research activities and publications are focused on propagation of tropical root and tuber crops.

Abstract:

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is important for household food security and income generation for at least 60 million people in West Africa, a region that produces more than 93% of world yam in 47 million hectares. However, average yield of 12 t/ha is much lower than the potential of 26 t/ha. Among the major constraints in yam production are the shortage of quality seed due to low multiplication ratio and high prevalence of diseases and pests in field and storage. The BMGF funded “Yam Improvement for Income and Food Security in West Africa (YIIFSWA)” project was set up with a five-year goal toincrease yam productivity by 40% for 200,000 smallholder yam farmers in Ghana and Nigeria, as well as deliver technologies to improve the productivity and livelihoods of these farmers. A participatory approach integrating training, demonstrations and study visits is used to encourage smallholder yam farmers to improve the quality of their saved seed. So far, 323 demonstration plots (300 m2) have been established and 54,872 farmers directly trained in production of quality seed. A formal seed yam system was initiated with novel methods of rapidly multiplying yams using the temporary immersion bioreactor and aeroponics systems, developed to produce high quality pre-basic and basic seed. Production of micro-tubers using vine cuttings is being promoted. Sensitive virus indexing tools, procedures to generate virus-free yams and a seed yam quality management protocol were developed to produce quality planting material. This integrated approach will ensure sustainable availability of high quality seed yams.

  • Food Security and its Nutritional Impact | Effects of Environmental Stress on Food Security | Global Food Security: Ethics, Policies and Role of Governing Body | Community Development for Food Security: Economic and Social Status | Food Security and Risk Assessment | Food Security and Sustainable Development | Food Security and Agricultural Revolution
  • Workshop

Session Introduction

Christopher Bryant

University of Montreal, Canada

Title: Using strategic development planning for agriculture to advance food security in agricultural territories in and around cities
Speaker
Biography:

Christopher Bryant has almost 50 years of research experience in peri-urban agriculture (France, Canada and other countries) and 26 years research experience in adaptation of agriculture to climate change and variability as well as 30 years’ experience in community development. He was a Professor in Geography, University of Waterloo for 20 years and Professor in Géographie, Université de Montréal for 24 years. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph, Canada.

Abstract:

The development of Food Belts of different kinds around an increasing number of cities (e.g. in Belgium, France and Canada) relates to the increasing importance given to local foodstuffs by several segments of the market for foodstuffs. How to put in place a Food Belt^ There are several options and the introduction to this workshop will outline several of them. But the focus of the workshop will be on how to use a process known as strategic development planning involving farmers, social organizations and groups of citizens. The potential steps in this process will be presented and then the participants in the workshop will be asked to respond to a set of fundamental questions (in small groups of 5 to 6 participants) about the surroundings of one of the cities that they know where a Food Belt has yet to be put in place. The conclusions will of the different groups will be shared and a set of conclusions about how to start the strategic planning process for a Food Belt will be developed.

  • Special Session

Session Introduction

Griffiths G Atungulu

University of Arkansas, USA

Title: Rice conditioning and processing to achieve safe storage and shipping conditions
Speaker
Biography:

Dr. Griffiths G. Atungulu is an Assistant Professor of Grain Process Engineering in the Food Science Department at the University Of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture. Griffiths’ education has been in agricultural engineering with research specialization in grains process engineering. He holds Bachelors of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Iwate University, Japan. At present, his program is focused on engineering effective strategies to maintain grain quality and prevent mycotoxin development.

Abstract:

Recently-introduced Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) Controlled drying technology, also known as “cabling technology”, for use in on-farm, in-bin drying systems offers a means to utilize the advantages of low-temperature, natural air in-bin drying of grain and reduce incidences of mycotoxin contamination. With the new “cabling technology”, drying fan operation is controlled depending on the EMC conditions of the drying air and the moisture content (MC) of the grain. Drying fans are operated only under set conditions of drying air temperature and relative humidity to avoid over-drying or re-wetting of the grain. Modern on-farm drying bins equipped with the new technology comprises in-bin sensors to measure ambient air conditions, and monitor the MC and temperature of the grain throughout the bin; the MC history of the grain during drying can be accessed anytime via the internet, which makes monitoring of the grain MC very effective. From an electronic monitor and fan control standpoint, the new “cabling technology” appears very promising for managing grain after harvest. However, the ultimate success hinges on (1) accurate EMC data to establish optimal airflow rates and fan run time, (2) understanding the kinetics of grain quality degradation and that of mycotoxin-producing mold proliferation, particularly in the upper layers where the grain stay at high MC for prolonged durations, and (3) provision of efficient supplemental heating systems to speed up grain drying in the event that the prevailing weather conditions do not allow complete and timely drying. This presentation will discuss grain quality and safety issues related to grains when using these new drying and storage systems. 

  • Symposium

Session Introduction

Zengqi Peng

Nanjing Agricultural University, China

Title: Advanced green manufacture technology for processed meats

Time : 12:20-12:40

Speaker
Biography:

Zengqi Peng, PhD, a professor in Nanjing Agricultural University and National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, majors in meat science. He devotes himself to the green manufacture technology (GMT) for processed meat in recent years. He hosts and attends more than 10 projects including National Key Technology Support Program, National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program), National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Key Technology R&D Program since 2003. He is the laureate of the National Award for Science and Technology Progress in 2013, the award of the Chinese Association of Animal Products Processing in 2014, the award of the China Industry-University-Research Institute Collaboration Association in 2015, which are about GMT and its application of traditional processed meat.

Abstract:

There were increasing reports on food-borne carcinogens and mutagens resulting from meat processing in recent decades, such as grilling, barbecuing, frying and smoking. High-temperature cooking methods generate compounds that may contribute to carcinogenic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), trans-fatty acids (TFAs), formaldehyde, and PM2.5. Conclusions on the possible risk of certain human cancers caused by consumption of processed meat were drawn since 1990s. This symposium introduced Green Manufacture Technology (GMT) for processed meat, which is characterized by developing meat products by thermo-mechanical drying (below 120oC), that is, with non-grilling, non-frying, non-smoking and non-braising. A series of meat products developed by GMT have remarkable reduced content of hazardous chemicals such as PHAs, HAAs, TFAs, formaldehyde and PM2.5, while maintained attractive color, pleasant flavor and favorable texture as well.

Luqi Wei

Nanjing Agricultural University, China

Title: Application of GMT in traditional meat processing—Non-grilling and non-smoking

Time : 12:40-13:00

Biography:

Luqi Wei, second year in her Master degree in Nanjing Agricultural University and National Center of Meat Quality and Safety Control, majors in meat science and quality control. She became a member of Prof. Peng’s team in 2014 and has been devoting herself to the green manufacture technology (GMT) for processed meat since then. She has taken part in Program of National Beef Cattle Industrial Technology System, Program of Herbivore Livestock fattening and Technique of High Quality Meat Produce Research of South China and Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Abstract:

There were increasing reports on food-borne carcinogens and mutagens resulting from meat processing in recent decades, such as grilling, barbecuing, frying and smoking. High-temperature cooking methods generate compounds that may contribute to carcinogenic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), trans-fatty acids (TFAs), formaldehyde, and PM2.5. Conclusions on the possible risk of certain human cancers caused by consumption of processed meat were drawn since 1990s. This symposium introduced Green Manufacture Technology (GMT) for processed meat, which is characterized by developing meat products by thermo-mechanical drying (below 120oC), that is, with non-grilling, non-frying, non-smoking and non-braising. A series of meat products developed by GMT have remarkable reduced content of hazardous chemicals such as PHAs, HAAs, TFAs, formaldehyde and PM2.5, while maintained attractive color, pleasant flavor and favorable texture as well.

Yao Yao

Jiangxi Agricultural University, China

Title: Application of GMT in traditional meat processing—Non-frying and non-braising

Time : 13:00-13:20

Biography:

Yao Yao is a Lecturer in Jiangxi Agricultural University and Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Natural Products and Functional Food, majors in livestock products processing and quality control. She devotes herself to the green manufacture technology (GMT) for processed meat in recent years. As a Member of Professor Peng’s team, she has taken part in projects including National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program), National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. She is the Laureate of the Marine Fisheries and Technology Innovation Award of Jiangsu Province in 2013.

Abstract:

There were increasing reports on food-borne carcinogens and mutagens resulting from meat processing in recent decades, such as grilling, barbecuing, frying and smoking. High-temperature cooking methods generate compounds that may contribute to carcinogenic compounds, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs), trans-fatty acids (TFAs), formaldehyde, and PM2.5. Conclusions on the possible risk of certain human cancers caused by consumption of processed meat were drawn since 1990s. This symposium introduced Green Manufacture Technology (GMT) for processed meat, which is characterized by developing meat products by thermo-mechanical drying (below 120oC), that is, with non-grilling, non-frying, non-smoking and non-braising. A series of meat products developed by GMT have remarkable reduced content of hazardous chemicals such as PHAs, HAAs, TFAs, formaldehyde and PM2.5, while maintained attractive color, pleasant flavor and favorable texture as well.

  • Young Researchers Forum

Session Introduction

Laura Kahn

Indiana University, USA

Title: Spatiotemporal twitter analysis of the Venezuelan food crisis
Biography:

Laura H Kahn is currently pursuing her Masters in Data Science from Indiana University with a passion for using data to reduce hunger and poverty using technology. She has volunteered with various local hunger alleviations non-profit groups.

Abstract:

Social media from countries with limits to free speech is often the most reliable source of event occurrence and is a reliable alternative form of journalism. Spatiotemporal analysis of location-based social media data allows new ways to describe events. Almost 37,000 Spanish geo-tagged Tweets from the city of Caracas, Venezuela were used to observe reactions to the food shortage crisis within each of the city’s five municipalities. The number of Tweets over time is explored. The hypotheses of whether certain Tweets are particular to a municipality location that is tested using multinomial naive Bayes, logistic regression and k-nearest neighbor machine learning classifiers.

Nugun Patrick Jellason,

Royal Agricultural University, UK

Title: Climate change perception and farmer attitude to adaptation: An empirical study of socio-cognitive predictors of adaptive behavior in two communities in Northern Nigeria
Biography:

Jellason Nugun Patrick is an earlier career researcher building expertise in social adaptation to climate change for improving food security. He is passionate about enhancing resilience and improving food security of smallholder household as climate change and other environmental stresses limit agricultural potentials. He is currently researching on this theme for a PhD in the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, UK. He has few publications to his credit under review.

 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Climate change adaptation in the northern Nigerian drylands is a contentious issue. The great Sahel drought of 1969 to 1974 exposed the crisis and conditions faced by the rural households in the drylands of Sudano-Sahelian Africa which have since been a subject of environmental research and development. Agriculture is said to be most vulnerable to environmental challenges in terms of losses in production and food security. The agricultural sector remains a major source of livelihood providing about 65% of permanent jobs and 25-30% of African GDP. In Nigeria, about 40 million people depend on the drylands for their livelihood but also experience poverty under these dry conditions. The purpose of this study is to integrate behavioral change theories in climate change adaptation in the Nigerian drylands context.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Drawing on a survey of 220 households and a follow up survey to explore the theory of planned behavior for climate change adaptation intention.

Findings: Results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed majority of households perceived climate change to be happening; while other outlier households show limited knowledge of the climate changing. Interestingly, there was no difference in the socio-economic structure of the two separate groups. The theory of planned behavior was used to further explore role of cognition in influencing climate change adaptation.

Conclusion & Significance: Perception differed in each community; Zango household (driest region) responses were towards perception of high sunshine intensity and increasing dryness while Kofa responses (typically more rainfall than Zango) were more sensitive about reduced rainfall amount. Recommendations are made for policy to focus on improving climate change information to smallholders to enable them adapt and improve household food security.

Hiroko Seki

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Japan

Title: Maintaining the taste component in chub mackerel
Biography:

Hiroko Seki is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Course of Safety Management in Food Supply Chain at the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, who specializes in the quality of fish, the preservation of the taste component in fish muscles and the enzymes that are related to the degradation of ATP-related components.

Abstract:

Chub mackerel is consumed worldwide. A taste component of chub mackerel is inosinic acid (IMP), which is degraded by the IMP-degrading enzyme (IMPase). Therefore, suppressing IMPase activity is important for retaining IMP in fish. The IMPase activity largely depends on temperature and pH and therefore, these factors need to be controlled. Salt suppresses IMPase activity in several fish and therefore, might have the same effect in chub mackerel. Here, we investigated the effects of temperature, pH and salt on IMPase activity in chub mackerel. To prepare the enzyme solution, the fish flesh was homogenized with twice its weight of pure water and dialyzed against pure water. A 0.5 mL of enzyme solution was added to the reaction mixture (a final concentration of 33 mM K2HPO4 buffer [pH 6] or 50 mM buffer [succinic acid/NaOH: pH 4-8 or maleic acid/Tris/NaOH: pH 6-8], 0.83-4.2 mM IMP solution and 0-2.3% NaCl solution) and incubated at 10-60 °C for 24 hours. The reaction was stopped by adding 1.5 mL 10% perchloric acid, which was then neutralized using KOH. Next, the amount of IMP in each reaction mixture was estimated using HPLC. The relative IMPase activity was 65-67% at pH 4-5 and increased to 100% at pH 6, but sharply decreased to 8% at pH 8. Further, the IMPase activity was 45% at 10 °C and increased to 100% at 30 °C, but decreased to 39% at 60 °C. The enzyme activity was suppressed with increasing NaCl concentration: The relative activity decreased from 100% to 6.5% when NaCl concentration was increased from 0% to 1%. Therefore, it is preferable to store chub mackerel at low temperature in 1% NaCl solution with pH 7-8.

 

Fessehaye Hdremariam Desale

Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand

Title: Effect of post-harvest drying temperature on bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of sweet potato
Biography:

Fessehaye Hdremariam Desale has completed his BSc in Agricultural Engineering and was working as a Graduate Assistant for four years in the field of Post-Harvest Engineering in Department of Agricultural Engineering at Hamelmalo Agricultural College, Asmara, Eritrea. He has recently completed his MSc in Technology Management of Agricultural Produces from Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand.                                    

 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) is one among the staple food sustaining tuber crops. Extending its utilization by converting into flour through drying is a common practice. However, drying fresh sweet potato has some side effects on its final quality. A number of researches have been done on the effect of drying on quality of sweet potato. But comparisons made among different drying temperatures are very rare. The aim of this research is to study the effect of post-harvest drying on bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of sweet potato flours.

Methodology: Fresh roots of orange fleshed (OFSP) and purple fleshed (PFSP) sweet potato varieties were cleaned, peeled, cut in to 3 mm uniform thickness slices and then dried in a cabinet hot air drier at three drying temperatures (55, 70 and 85 °C). To be used as a comparison slices were also freeze dried. All dried samples were then powdered. Flour extractions were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total carotenoid content (TCC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay.

Findings: In OFSP, TPC, TCC and FRAP assay were significantly (p<0.05) decreased in hot air treated samples than freeze dried once. There was no significant difference in DPPH free radical scavenging activity among all drying treatments and no significant difference among hot air treated samples in TPC. However, TCC steeply decreased with increasing in drying temperature. In PFSP, TPC and TAC were reduced significantly in samples dried at 70 and 85 °C, whereas, those dried at 55 °C showed much higher amount in TPC and TAC. DPPH free radical scavenging activity and FRAP assay were significantly enhanced in hot air dried samples. Positive correlations between bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties were also observed in both varieties.

Conclusion: From these results, drying sweet potato at 55 °C may be better recommended for retaining the bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties.

Samuel Amakye

University of Bergen, Norway

Title: oping with household food insecurity during the lean season; Strategies employed by smallholder farmers in navrongo within the guinea savanna zone of ghana
Biography:

Samuel Amakye is currently an MPhil student of Development Geography at University of Bergen, Norway. His interest is in agriculture, food security and food systems. Earlier he has worked as a Research Assistant at Crops Research Institute in Ghana. He has participated in a number of research projects including Feed the Future, funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and also Crops and livestock integration project, funded by AUSAID, all in Ghana as an Enumerator.

Abstract:

Access to sufficient food in a sustainable way is a fundamental human right that needs to be enjoyed by everyone no matter the age, gender, nationality or religion of the individual. However, it is the right that has constantly been violated. Individual right to food are sometimes curtailed by lack of availability, access and sustainable way. This has been the situation for most smallholder farm households in Navrongo, Ghana. Navrongo is located in the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana. This zone experience unimodal pattern of rainfall and therefore there is only one planting season. Due to this, households have to depend on their harvest year by year. Smallholder farmers are the major food producers in the country, yet still they are the most vulnerable to food insecurity. Food insecurity exist in most households in the study area throughout the year, however this reaches its peak during the lean season. The lean season in this context refers to the period in between planting and just before harvest. It is the time that smallholder farmer households experience the most difficult period in the year. Households’ food stock gets depleted and also it is the time when food prices reach its maximum. As low income households, the question is, how do they survive during such period? This and many other questions I seek to answer within the theoretical framework of sustainable livelihood approach and the concept of food security. Based on this, qualitative research methods (in-depth interviews, participant observation, focus groups, informal conversation) were used during the data collection. The qualitative research methods were used to be able to unearth the perceptions and the experiences of smallholder farmer households of lean season food insecurity.

Rejoice Wabiyaa Akuyo Ayifli

Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana

Title: Food Security Challenges in Ghana
Biography:

Abstract:

The agriculture sector has been the most dominant sector of the Economy of Ghana since independence. Close to seventy (70) percent of Ghanaians are engaged in the agricultural sector directly or indirectly along the value chain. In recent years Ghana face the challenge of making substantial progress in food security because average yields have remained stagnant. Commercial food imports and food aid have constituted about 4.7% of food needs in the last 15 years. Food production fluctuates from year to year due to frequent variations in the magnitude of rains during and between growing seasons. This recurrence of climatic stress destroys crops and livestock. Rainfall is a major determinant in the annual fluctuations of household and national food output. This creates food insecurity at household levels, which can be transitory in poor communities and chronic in distressed areas. In high population density areas such as the Upper East Region, the situation is cyclical and severe for three to five months each year. There are therefore regional disparities in food insecurity due to seasonal food deficits in the three northern regions. The Ghanaian government over the years have adopted various policies and strategies to sustain food security within its borders. Most often, a countries food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people’s dietary needs as well as their food preferences. In most countries, like Ghana,  health problems related to dietary excess are an ever increasing threat, In fact, malnutrition and foodborne diarrhoea are become double burden. The government has drafted a three pillar food security policy. Food availability, sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis, Food access, having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation. The food and agriculture sector development policy (FASDEP) I & II and the medium term agricultural sector investment plan (METASIP) I&II are the policies and strategies adopted in recent years by the government of Ghana. The FASDEP II and the METASIP II are the current policy and strategy been implemented by the Ghanaian government.