International conference on agrifood systems concludes at Punjab Agricultural University
The four-day international conference on “Transforming Agrifood Systems in the Face of the Climate Change and Energy Transitions” concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Friday.
Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, vice-chancellor, PAU, chaired the valedictory function, whereas Dr Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, vice-chancellor, YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, co-chaired the concluding session.
The conference, organised by the Indian Ecological Society in collaboration with ther PAU, saw the participation of national and international delegates. A technical session on “Future Forest Management: Towards Climate Resilience” was also held today, which was chaired by Dr Chandel and co-chaired by Dr MS Bhullar, Director of Extension Education.
Dr Gosal pointed out the threat being posed by the climate change to humankind, thus affecting global food security and agricultural ecosystems. The degradation of natural resources was equally a serious concern, he observed, while calling for efficient management of natural resources for the preservation of air, soil and water. The PAU V-C hoped that sharing of scientific knowledge during the international conference would help in developing improved farming practices for the sustainability of agrifood systems.
Dr Chandel, while delivering a thought-provoking lecture on “Visioning Agrifood System Pathways through Natural Farming,” observed that transforming agrifood systems through natural farming addressed environmental, social and economic challenges in modern agriculture. “By prioritising soil health, reducing chemical inputs and enhancing biodiversity, natural farming offers a pathway to a more resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems. Natural farming has shown potential to improve soil health, climate resilience, and sustain agrifood systems,” he said.
Speaking on “Eco-system Services for Sustainable Agrifood System Transformation,” Dr Kiran Kumar TM, director, ICAR-National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi, said that ecosystem services were the direct and indirect benefits that humans derived from ecological system. Agriculture offered a wide range of eco-system services, including provisioning services such as food, feed, fibre and fuel; regulating services such as pollination, pest control, insect-disease management, and climate regulation; supporting services like soil fertility maintenance and biodiversity conservation.
