The McGill Global Food Security conference will be held over three days next week and will host over 400 participants. The goal of the conference will be to help define a Framework for Action at the end of the conference, which will enable participating countries and organizations to pursue actions leading to global food security. Students, academics, and development experts will take part in the exchange. Government officials including the French Minister of Agriculture and the Nigerian High Commissioner are also expected to attend.
“Everyone in the room has an opportunity to debate and participate in the discussion with the experts, including students,” said Dr. Chandra Madramootoo, a professor in bioresource engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “The conference is [also] an entire course on global food security in three days. You will have access to the most up-to-date information that all the important players have,” Madramootoo added.
The event aims to be environmentally conscious – all meals will be catered by students in the school of dietetics and human nutrition and prepared within the guidelines of the Hundred Mile Diet, with produce strictly from local farmers and suppliers.
“This conference is designed to benefit students,” Madramootoo said, emphasizing the opportunity for students to not only inform themselves, but also create valuable networks and contacts during a Networking Cocktail on the first evening of the conference.
The event will be held Monday, October 5 to Wednesday, October 7 at New Residence Hall at 3625 Parc. For those who cannot attend the conference, a free public lecture is planned for Monday, October 5 at 5 p.m, titled “Global Food Security: Effects of the Global Recession and Future Prospects.” Pre-registration is required for both events at mcgill.ca/globalfoodsecurity.