Simulating the FAO model and its importance in building the capacity of university students
Egypt and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are linked in many different fields, especially in fields related to agriculture and modern food systems.
Through the importance of enhancing the role of universities in conducting scientific and applied research in agricultural and food fields and the interest in providing modern study programs that keep pace with the requirements of the contemporary and future labor market, which enhances the achievement of the sustainable development goals of the Egyptian state (Egypt Vision 2030).
Within the framework of an open dialogue, the scientific and cultural forum “FAO Simulation Model at Menoufia University” was held under the auspices of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Farag Al-Qassed, President of the University, and the supervision of Prof. Dr. Sobhi Sharaf, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ayman Hafez Issa, Dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Alawi Salim, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs
With the participation of the Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs Sector at the Faculty, in cooperation and coordination with Prof. Dr. Wael Omran, Head of the Department of Soil Sciences, to attend the FAO Menoufia Model.
Opening FA Model MNU 2024
Within the framework of the activities of the FAO Simulation Model at Menoufia University, it was decided to hold an open meeting as a closing activity for the academic year 2023/2024 entitled: “FAO Simulation Model at Menoufia University”
With the participation of many academic institutions and civil society institutions, with the participation of Eng. Sami Yassin, General Manager of Nahdet Misr Company for Agricultural Manufacturing, and the Youth and Development Ambassadors Association, represented by Dr. Aml Fawzy, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association.
“Our Agriculture for a Healthy Future”
Main Topics
⦁ Sustainable Agriculture and its Relationship to Food
⦁ Agricultural Policies and their Impact on Food Security and Rationalization
⦁ The Impact of Fertilization and Pesticides on Food Quality
⦁ Sound Agricultural Practices for Clean Food Production
⦁ Healthy Food and its Importance
⦁ Capacity Building for Climate Action and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability
Through an open dialogue to build capacity and with the participation of:
⦁ Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Darwish:Professor of Crop Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, former Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs
⦁ Prof. Dr. Mohamed Fathy Salem:Professor of Organic Agriculture and Biological Control
⦁ Dr. Samah Arafa:Lecturer of Toxicology, Department of Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University
⦁ Dr. Sabah Hamed:PhD in Food Science and Technology
⦁ Prof. Dr. Fawzy El-essawy Younis:Professor at the Desert Research Center – Director of the Open Dialogue for Climate Change Climate in Egypt after COP27.
This was held on, Monday 19/8/2024, in the International Conference Hall, Menoufia University (in front of the City Club).
The dialogue meeting also addressed the activation of the role of FAO simulation models at Menoufia University, and included presenting the organization’s model, its goals, advantages, outputs and activities.
The aim of this is to work on building students’ capacities at early stages during their academic stages at the university and before their graduation, enhancing their participation and leadership, enabling them to acquire modern experiences and knowledge, providing them with skills, enhancing rural economies, achieving food security, investing in education, and establishing a network of volunteers to support development work and propose new ideas for innovative projects.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Qassed, President of the University, stressed the importance of the vital role played by the Faculty of Agriculture at the University in developing many technological agricultural methods and organic agriculture, which qualifies it to support students in the college and direct them to develop their research and innovation capabilities for various agricultural and animal projects and present them within relevant international organizations such as FAO “Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations”.
The university president also pointed out the continuous efforts made by the Faculty of Agriculture at the university to hold workshops, seminars and field visits to agricultural fields and agricultural production companies in all its specializations in order to hone the capabilities of students and train them to innovate purposeful projects for future generations in food security, stressing that the right to food is an important requirement for a better life and a better future.
And that the university, through the Faculty of Agriculture, is able to prepare a generation capable of keeping pace with scientific and research development and entrepreneurship in the agricultural field, and that by 2025 we will be able to qualify 500 students annually to enter the FAO.
Dr. Sobhi Sharaf added that the symposium addressed several important axes that were presented to the students of the Faculty of Agriculture to discuss the possibility of finding innovative solutions that contribute to food security and achieving the highest level of surplus from agricultural crops, land reclamation, developing irrigation systems and training leaders from innovative students in agricultural sciences to support them within these organizations and learn about ways to coexist with food and agricultural security, especially with the occurrence of sudden global crises.
The lecturers also discussed the reality and hope in the field of agriculture in Egypt, and reviewed the political programs for agricultural improvement, ways to employ agricultural technology, population problems, irrigation problems, climate change, agricultural investment, quality of agricultural products, upgrading agricultural research and practices, developing agricultural, fish, animal and poultry wealth, and ways to develop international agricultural relations through the FAO, as well as the problems of desertification of lands and converting them into arable lands, the danger of using pesticides and its relationship to modern diseases such as cancerous diseases of the digestive system resulting from contaminated food that depends on pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and how to address these problems during scientific research and move towards organic agriculture for better health for the Egyptian people.
The importance of building cognitive capacities for students in the early stages before graduation in climate action and sustainable development.
Climate change is currently affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies, affecting lives and costing people, communities and countries dearly today and tomorrow.
People are suffering from the significant impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns, rising sea levels and more extreme weather events.
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are the primary driver of climate change and are increasing, reaching their highest levels in history.
Without action, the Earth’s average surface temperature is projected to rise in the 21st century, likely to exceed 2°C this century, with some parts of the world projected to get hotter.
Climate change is affecting the poorest and most vulnerable people the most.
To address climate change, countries adopted the Paris Agreement at COP21 in Paris on 12 December 2015.
Less than a year later, the agreement entered into force. Under the agreement, all countries agreed to work to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2°C and, given the serious risks, to 1.5°C. Implementing the Paris Agreement is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
It provides a roadmap for climate action that will reduce emissions, build capacity to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and take actions that will reduce the carbon footprint of individuals, institutions, and various sectors, including the agricultural sector.
