Electronic Journal of Biotechnology Universidad Católica de Valparaíso ISSN: 0717-3458 Vol. 3, Num. 3, 2000

Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 3, No. 3, December, 2000

EDITORIAL

Reflections on the International Congress: Food Production and Quality of Life, 4-8 September 2000, Sassari, Italy. Jubilee of Universities

Dr. Aly Hossary

Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki-Cairo, Egyptalihossary@usa.net

Code Number: ej00017

On the eve of the third millennium, University professors participated in an International Congress held at the Province of Sassari in Italy, entitled, Food Production and Quality of Life. Some of the key issues that have been discussed included the conservation and management of natural resources, use of modern biotechnology and the implementation of rapid modernization of agriculture. Their objectives were to find ways and means to reduce the gap of productivity between the rich and the poor, since, the eradication of hunger, is considered the great challenge facing mankind today.

According to the UNICEF report some 11 million of children keep dying, every day, for the lack of food, shelter and medicine. At present the people suffering poverty are estimated to be more than one billion.

In addressing technical and ethical issues in food process and food product innovation. Participants concluded that the problem of hunger is not primarily scientific or technical, but something that need to be confronted at a political, and administrative level. Information and training are more urgent than bread. In the new millennium, can this century be one where the poor and marginalized come into their own and the gross social inequalities of the past are at least eradicated !!

Since the world population can’t be supported only by large scale farms, we essentially need the power of small farmers too. The system that enables to raise the income of small farmers must be considered. We, agricultural engineers, need to develop and supply a series of agricultural mechanization technology that will have a long effect in increasing productivity in the developing countries. In this case the developing world have to adopt an agricultural policy based on four main pillars, which are:

• Crop consolidation
• Crop specialisation
• Mechanization
• Agro-industry (to prevent unemployment)

Such policy will enable small farmers to use a suitable crop rotation based on crop consolidation to benefit from large scale farming.

Supported by UNESCO / MIRCEN network 

© 2000 by Universidad Católica de Valparaíso -- Chile