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Merely nine plant species currently account for 65% of the global food supply. As genetic variety declines and ecosystems struggle, agrifood systems become progressively vulnerable, endangering food security and human well-being. Specialists caution that this extraordinary deficit in biodiversity — at genetic, species, and ecosystem tiers — carries extensive implications for how the planet cultivates and maintains its food.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the School of Public Health at Washington University in St. Louis will convene prominent researchers, policymakers, and community advocates for the panel discussion “Policy, Biodiversity and the Future of Food.” Panelists will address policy frameworks, community initiatives, and actionable approaches to safeguard and improve biodiversity for food and nutritional security.

The panel discussion is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. in Umrath Hall Lounge, followed by a reception. The event is complimentary and accessible to the public, with attendance available either in person or through Zoom. Registration is mandatory.

The event will commence with introductory remarks by Morven A. McLean, PhD, the executive director of networks and innovation and a professor of practice in the School of Public Health, who also holds the position of director of the university’s Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM). The panel will be facilitated by Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, the Margaret C. Ryan Dean of the School of Public Health, the Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health, and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives.

Panelists comprise: Kaleab Baye, PhD, an eminent researcher on how biodiversity loss influences maternal and child nutrition and a professor of human nutrition at Addis Ababa University; Gina Kennedy, PhD, a principal scientist with the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture; and Anna Nelson, the executive director of the Food Security Leadership Council and a former deputy special envoy for global food security at the U.S. State Department. Following the discussion, panelists will respond to inquiries from the audience. Lora L. Iannotti, PhD, the school’s Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professor, co-director of FARM, and director of the E3 Nutrition Lab, will provide closing remarks.

The post Safeguarding our food future: Experts address biodiversity crisis appeared first on The Source.

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