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Exploring a resilient food system for nutritious diets and healthy outcomes at UWI Research Day

For Release Upon Receipt - March 10, 2023

St. Augustine


Professor Mark Wuddivira - Dean, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The UWI St. Augustine Campus addresses the audience

 ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago.  Friday 10 March 2023 – “Ensuring food and nutrition security in an era of global uncertainty: implications for consumer health, local food production, the environment and trade” was the theme for Research Day 2023 hosted by TheFaculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA). The informative event took place at the Sir Frank Stockdale Building at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), St Augustine Campus on Thursday, March 2, 2023.

 Given the food import pattern in CARICOM, our populations are at an increased risk for food and nutrition insecurity. Especially in an era of increasing global uncertainties that are expected to have tremendous negative impacts on food production, food availability and access, nutrition and the environment. As the premier and relevant body in the region for agri-food-environment research, focal areas of Food Production, Entrepreneurship, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Extension, Human Ecology, the Environment and Geography were addressed.

 

 Participants of The UWI Faculty of Food and Agriculture Research Day 2023

   Panel discussions, oral presentations, poster presentations and stakeholder displays were all curated based on thematic tracks to address key up-coming issues in the Caribbean:

 Consumer practice and perception with implications for food safety and health practices.

Climate resilience and food systems and GIS in small-island developing states.

Regional farm-led agricultural, economics and trade practices.

 Panellists included representatives of renowned organizations within the Food and Agriculture industry. Among them were Mr Rajiv Diptee, President of the Supermarket Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Diana Francis Representative of the IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture) Delegation in Trinidad and Tobago) and Mr Suresh Soobir, Programmes Manager and Representative of Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations with the Chair being Dr Ronald Roopnarine.

 Stakeholder fair participants included Nestle, CARIRI, NAMDEVCO, the Agricultural Development Bank, CARDI, Cocoa Research Centre, IICA, National Herbarium of Trinidad and Tobago, ODPM and the Student Association for Nutrition and Dietetics.

 END

 About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Monain Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hillin Barbados, Five IslandsinAntigua and Barbuda and itsOpen Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu  

 

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