October 2017 |
Professor Peter Mollinga Speaks on "Water and Development"
The Food Security Program hosted a talk entitled Water and Development: The Need for an Interdisciplinary Approach by Professor Peter P. Mollinga of SOAS University of London on Monday, October 23. Professor Mollinga is a professor of development studies whose research focuses on the cultural economy of water, comparative water policies, and boundary processes in science and practice of water resources. His talk focused on how the apparently mundane issue of unequal distribution of irrigation water is, in fact, a multidimensional problem with a complex set of causal factors required for its explanation. The lecture was attended by FAFS faculty, staff, and students as well as external attendees.
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April 2017 |
Professor Martha Mundy Lectures on "Agriculture and War: The Case of Yemen"
The Food Security Program hosted a lecture entitled "Agriculture and War: The Case of Yemen" by Professor Martha Mundy of the London School of Economics on Wednesday, April 12. An anthropologist and expert on the Arab World and particularly North Yemen, Professor Mundy offered insight on the past, present, and future state of agriculture and land-use in Yemen. Her lecture focused on the role of conflict within the current food insecurity crisis in the country. The lecture was attended by FAFS faculty, staff, and students as well as external attendees.
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March 2017 |
Voluntary Guidelines for Sustainability of Mediterranean Diet FAFS Dean Nahla Hwalla participated in a technical workshop on the “Development of Voluntary Guidelines for the Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet in the Mediterranean Region" held March 14-15 in Valenzano, Italy. The workshop was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and CIHEAM-Bari to advance efforts targeting the Mediterranean diet as a a sustainable solution to improve food security and nutrition in the region. In 2011, the FAO and CIHEAM-Bari identified the Mediterranean diet as a joint case study for characterization and assessment of the sustainability of food consumption patterns and diets in the Mediterranean region. The workshop achieved two key deliverables: It produced a discussion paper on the development of voluntary guidelines, as a contribution to the 10YFP Sustainable Food Systems Programme core initiative "Sustainable Diets in the Context of Sustainable Food Systems," of which AUB is a partner. Second, it finalized a proposal for the development of the Mediterranean Multi-stakeholder Platform on Sustainable Food Systems, intended to advance the 2016 Call for Action for the Revitalization of the Mediterranean Diet; AUB and partner institutions officially endorsed the Call for Action in July 2016. Within the workshop, Dr. Hwalla delivered a presentation highlighting ongoing research efforts on sustainable diets and the Mediterranean dietary pattern at AUB.
To learn more about the Mediterranean diet, click to read the 2015 FAO White Paper on “Mediterranean Food Consumption Patterns: Diet, Environment, Society, Economy and Health."
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Crisis and Conflict in the Agrarian World: An Evolving Dialectic
AUB faculty members presented academic papers exploring the inter-linkages of conflict, crisis, and agriculture at a conference on "Crisis and Conflict in the Agrarian World: An Evolving Dialectic" held March 2-3, 2017. The conference was hosted by the Kuwait Chair at Sciences Po (Paris School of International Affairs), and organized in collaboration with the American University of Beirut and the Barcelona Center for International Affairs (CIDOB).
Presenters were drawn from academic and research institutions in Latin America, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. AUB faculty members presented on a range of topics including agriculture, conflict, and the agrarian question (Rachel Bahn and Rami Zurayk); water, agriculture, and conflict (Martin Keulertz); and GIS techniques for remote study of agriculture in ongoing conflict situations (Hadi Jaafar).
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February 2017 | Water Policy Innovations in Singapore
AUB faculty member Dr. Martin Keulertz attended a workshop on water policy innovations hosted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) on February 6, 2017. The workshop convened 30 senior experts from East Asia, Australia, and the Middle East to discuss new ideas related to water management from the fields of systems theory, game theory, political science. Dr. Keulertz's visit is the first engagement within a planned collaboration between NUS and the AUB Food Security Program around the issues of food and water security.
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FAFS Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Food Security Among Refugees
The Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at AUB, in collaboration with the Food Security Program and the Food Security Center at the University of Hohenheim, hosted a roundtable discussion entitled “Tackling the Health and Nutritional Status of Syrian Refugees: Comparisons between Lebanon and Germany" at FAFS on February 2, 2017. The roundtable event highlighted information, experiences, and lessons learned from research on food and nutrition security among Syrian refugees, comparing results in Germany and in Lebanon; and helped to identify research gaps and promising research efforts and recommendations for the future.
The roundtable featured Dr. Veronika Scherbaum of the University of Hohenheim; Ms. Joana Abou Rizk, PhD candidate at the University of Hohenheim and graduate of the Diploma in Food Security program at AUB; faculty members from AUB; and invited representatives from international and local nongovernmental organizations active within the field of food and nutrition security in Lebanon and other MENA countries, including the World Food Programme, Action Against Hunger, and International Orthodox Christian Charities.
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January 2017 | |
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December 2016 |
Die Zeit Speaks to Visiting AUB Professor on the Middle East Water Crisis On December 8, German newspaper Die Zeit published an article citing AUB faculty member Martin Keulertz on the topic of the Middle East water crisis in the context of wars and drought. Dr. Keulertz addressed the crisis in Syria, Iran, and Turkey. The article in the original German is available online.
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Food Security Post-Conflict: A Foundation for Peace and Development Food security was the focus of a panel entitled, "Food Security Post-Conflict: A Foundation for Peace and Development" within the Office of Strategic Health Initiatives conference on Rebuilding Health Post-Conflict: A Dialogue for the Future held on December 8-9 on the AUB campus. The panel featured speakers drawn from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and academia: Dr. Maurice Saade, Representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to Lebanon; Dr. Tony Colman, Research Fellow holding appointments at the University of East Anglia, the University of Cape Town, and the Earth Institute, Columbia University; Professor Rami Zurayk of the American University of Beirut and member of the High Level Panel of Experts on food security; and Mr. Joaquin Cadario, Food Security and Livelihoods Coordinator at Action Against Hunger. The panel was chaired by Professor Nahla Hwalla, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB. The full conference program is available online.
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AUB Faculty Member Discusses "Food Security, Migration and Climate Change" A faculty member from the Food Security Program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences participated in a workshop on "Food Security, Migration and Climate Change" hosted by the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) from December 1-2, 2016, at the Agricultural University of Athens in Athens, Greece.
Dr. Ioannis Savvaidis, Visiting Professor of Food Science and Microbiology at FAFS, was a featured speaker in a panel on "Water Scarcity and Food Safety." According to Dr. Savvaidis, "A key challenge to scale up food safety globally is to better leverage existing capacity and research working towards evidence-based decisions. Education and training to elaborate on control measures including good hygenic practices; implementation of certified food safety management systems; and setting of appropriate criteria should all be important priorities by governments." In his remarks, Dr. Savvaidis recommended that, "Leaders in food security should be aware about food safety, and develop an attitude of continuous learning, critical thinking and be given the right tools to develop local solutions to address the emerging societal and environmental challenges to provide sufficient, safe, healthy, nutritious, and sustainably produced food for the world's population." The workshop was one in a series of international conferences and workshops focused on broad international themes. The workshop drew more than 20 attendees from 14 countries, including academic experts on topics ranging from agricultural genomics and unconventional crops, to environmental impact assessment, to food safety. Reflecting on the entire workshop, Dr. Savvaidis observed that speakers made clear that both food safety and food security are essential to protect and improve human health and nutrition.
AGYA was establishd in 2013 as the first bilateral academy for youth, with a mission to establish a community of outstanding researchers from the Arab world and Germany. AGYA's more than 50 members and distinguished researchers come from various fields of natural sciences, life sciences and humanities, social sciences, and technical sciences. |
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November 2016 |
Arab Human Development Report Highlights Concerns, Outlook for Youth The United Nations Development Programme celebrated the publication of the 2016 Arab Human Development Report with a launch event held at the American University of Beirut on November 29-30, 2016. This report focuses on the topics of "Youth and the Prospects of Human Development in a Changing Reality," exploring challenges and opportunities facing youth in the region and particularly in light of the Arab Spring.
The AHDR points out that improvement in the human development index has slowed in the MENA region over recent years, while inequality is rising. These factors, in combination with economic shocks and persistent conflict, prevent youth from achieving their full potential.
Team lead for the AHDR report team, AUB Associate Professor and member of the Interfaculty Committee on Food Security Jad Chaaban, spoke during the launch event and highlighted the importance of access to education and economic opportunity for all youths, regardless of socioeconomic background, location, or gender. He called for a focus on youth to be embedded throughout all areas of government policy, not confined to a single youth ministry or policy. While food security is not an explicit focus of the report, it is embedded within an underlying, youth-oriented development model that focuses on enhancing capabilities for youth - including a decent standard of living, knowledge and skills, and healthy quality of life. Significant progress remains to be made in their achievement. For example, a global survey 2014 indicate that access to affordable and nutritious food still needs to be among the top five priorities for Arab countries. The AHDR 2016 is available online in both English and Arabic. |
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International Expert Tony Allan Discusses Food-Water Security at AUB Leading international water expert John Anthony Allan delivered a lecture on "Food-Water Security in the Middle East" on November 23 at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. In his remarks, Professor Allan explained the role of water in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, now and into the future. He distinguished the concepts of food-water and non-food-water, and highlighted the central role of the agri-food sector in achieving water security in the 21st century. According to Professor Allan, food-water composes 92% of all water used. The lecture featured insights on how to manage food-water so that the MENA region can transition into a water secure future. Professor Allan traveled to the American University of Beirut as a University Research Board Visiting Scholar from November 23-24, at the joint invitation of the Food Security Program and the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management. In addition to the guest lecture, Professor Allan spoke with students of the Master of Science in Food Security program, met with faculty experts in food and water security, and visited the AUB farm in the Bekaa Valley. Professor Allan holds academic positions at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London and at King's College London (KCL). He serves as head of the London Water Research Group. To access the full content, watch a video of Professor Allan's lecture via YouTubeor click here to access Professor Allan's presentation as a PDF file.
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October 2016 |
FSP Highlights Role of Nutrition Programming for Syrian Refugees at Migration Conference Faculty members from the Food Security Program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences participated in the "1st Exceed Conference on Forced Migration: Environmental and Socioeconomic Dimensions" held in Berlin, Germany, from October 19-20, 2016. The conference topic was prompted by growing attention and concern over the issue of forced migration, particularly with the increasing flow of refugees and asylum seekers to countries of the European Union. The conference addressed issues around migration including within the developing world, from consideration of root causes including environmental factors, to provision of services for migrants, refugees, and internally displaced persons. Within the case studies portion of the program, Dr. Nahla Hwalla presented on behalf of an AUB research team including Assistant Professor Lamis Jomaa and Professor Shadi Hamadeh. The key message of her presentation, entitled “Assessing the Impact of a School-Based Nutrition Intervention to Improve Food Security of Refugee Children in Lebanon,” was the importance of pairing short-term interventions such as supplemental feeding, with longer-term solutions including nutritional education. The conference was hosted by the five German Excellence Centers for Exchange and Development, including the Food Security Center at the Universität Hohenheim; and funded by the German Academic Cooperation (DAAD). The Exceed Centers were established in 2009 under a collaborative project from the German government. The Food Security Program at AUB has been an associated partner of the Food Security Center at the Universität Hohenheim since December 2014.
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Food Security Students Participate in UN Meetings with Regional Policymakers Students of the Master of Science in Food Security degree program were invited to attend and observe a two-day meeting of national focal points for a project on "Promoting Food and Water Security in the Arab Region," from October 5-6, 2016. The meeting was held at the UN-ESCWA headquarters in Beirut. Students were escorted by faculty members Dr. Martin Keulertz and Ms. Rachel Bahn. The meeting was a unique opportunity for students to observe the UN process in action; hear from different country counterparts on the current status and future outlook of food and water security in their countries; and gain direct insight into collaborative programs that promise to improve food and water security in countries across the MENA region. Applied learning opportunities are a hallmark of the Food Security Program, which seeks to translate theoretical learning from the classroom into real-world applications in programming and policy throughout the MENA region and the developing world. |
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September 2016 |
FAFS Celebrates Achievements in Food and Nutrition Security The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the Food Security Program held an event celebrating food and nutrition security on Friday, September 30, at the American University of Beirut campus. Speakers from the university joined external experts in exploring new information and research on the topic. The event also featured the launch of the Lebanon Spatial data mapping atlas and a social media contest allowing students, faculty, and the wider AUB community to share stories on how they are improving food and nutrition security in their own communities. This event was held in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the American University of Beirut. |
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Lebanon Spatial Goes Live The Food Security Program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) have launched the Lebanon Spatial data atlas. The mapping project seeks to make data on development and food security more available, user-friendly, and intuitive for users. Lebanon Spatial supports the dissemination of information and data on food security, for easier use by the general public, policymakers, and researchers.
IFPRI established the original Arab Spatial website as a regional and bilingual resource to post and map data on food security, in an effort to support research and learning on this topic in the MENA region. IFPRI is now establishing country-specific websites in collaboration with local partners, and has partnered with the American University of Beirut to establish the Lebanon Spatial website.
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AUB Faculty Debate Global Research Priorities for Food and Nutrition Security AUB faculty members participated in an international colloquium on "Food and Nutrition Security in the Context of the 2030 Agenda: Science and Knowledge for Action," held September 27 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colloquium was jointly hosted by the University of Hohenheim and the High Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the UN Committee on World Food Security, and welcomed more than 200 scientists and experts from around the world.
AUB Professor Rami Zurayk, a member of the HLPE, spoke within a panel discussion on the topic of "Emerging Issues for Food Security and Nutrition and Knowledge Gaps - what do we need to know?" Other panels addressed knowledge gaps around food and nutrition security; the role of knowledge systems; and the role of sustainable agricultural development for food and nutrition. Access the colloquium program online, or review speaker presentations (video format).
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Food Security Program Helps AUB Make History and Celebrate 150th Anniversary The American University of Beirut is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2016 by recognizing its programs and initiatives that are making history. The Food Security Program has been selected as one such pioneering program that shows how AUB and the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences are making a difference at the university, in Lebanon, and across the Middle East and North Africa. Read more about our program and other outstanding efforts through the AUB 150th Anniversary website.
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July 2016 |
FAFS Promotes Mediterranean Diet as a Healthy and Sustainable Pattern for Food and Nutrition Security The 1st World Conference on the Mediterranean Diet was hosted by the International Foundation of Mediterranean Diet in Milan, Italy, from July 6-9. This conference was organized to consider the Mediterranean diet as a healthy and sustainable dietary pattern. It welcomed more than 100 members of the international scientific community, to discuss ways to revitalize the Mediterranean diet; and to witness the announcement of a new Mediterranean diet pyramid. The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences were represented by Dean Nahla Hwalla, who delivered a talk entitled "Developing sustainable national food-based dietary guidelines based on the Lebanese Mediterranean diet." Her talk focused on sustainable food consumption as one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the broad development targets for 2030 that were adopted by countries around the globe last year. Dr. Hwalla urged countries to revisit their food-based dietary guidelines to increase their sustainability. She discussed efforts towards placing nutrition and environmental sustainability within the dietary guidelines that were recently adopted in Lebanon, and called on attendees to include nutrition across all dimensions of food security and not only to restrict it to nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
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June 2016 |
Food Security Program Participates in EAT Stockholm Food Forum 2016 The Food Security Program at the American University of Beirut has participated in the EAT Stockholm Food Forum, a major international gathering on the topic of sustainable food systems, held June 13-14 in Stockholm, Sweden. AUB was one of the selected academic institutions invited to participate. What was this event, and why did FSP participate? FSP Coordinator Rachel Bahn answers those questions. |
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AUB Contributes Expertise to UN-ESCWA Efforts in Food and Water Security AUB Visiting Professor of Agribusiness Dr. Gumataw Abebe lent his expertise to meetings hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) in Cairo, Egypt from May 29-June 1. UN-ESCWA gathered experts in agriculture, food security, and natural resources to the first consultation meeting for a new food and water security project, as well as a scoping meeting for the establishment of an Arab Good Agricultural Practices Framework (Arab-GAP). This UN-ESCWA project launched in 2015, and will continue over coming years to deliver improved food and water security for the MENA region. AUB was one of only three regional universities invited to participate in these meetings. Dr. Abebe summarized the importance of participating in such efforts by noting, "Designing new production techniques that can enhance the efficient use of limited water resources and implemening good agricultural practices are crucial to achieve food security and food safety in the Arab region." |
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May 2016 |
AUB Invites Collaboration to the Knowledge Access in Rural Interconnected Areas Network (KariaNet) The Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the American University of Beirut has announced that it is hosting the third phase of KariaNet, a major regional network for the management and sharing of knowledge, information, and experience in agricultural and rural developmnt. KariaNet stretches across nine Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa. KariaNet can be accessed in English and in Arabic. The KariaNet team welcomes partners and collaboration with national, regional, and international centers in the following areas: - Collecting and sharing case studies and best practices; - Arabizing and contextualizing R&D outcomes and community-based initiatives; - Building bridges between rural communities in MENA and beyond. Interested partners can find contact information within the latest KariaNet newsletter (in English or in Arabic) or on the program website. |
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AUB Faculty Call for Sustainable Food Consumption at FAO Conference AUB faculty members highlighted the importance of sustainable food consumption while attending the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 33rd Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) held May 9-13 in Rome, Italy. The NERC is a biannual meeting, gathering government officials and civil society observers from across the Near East and North Africa. The NERC offers representatives from across the region to discuss regional strategies and priorities, offering feedback based on their own country experience. This year’s event was held under the theme of “Promoting Food Security, Blue Growth, and Empowerment of Small-Scale and Women in Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region,” with discussions focused on the contribution of livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture to food security; the empowerment of small-scale farmers and women throughout the region; and updates from the Committee on World Food Security.
Faculty members Nahla Hwalla, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, and Lamis Jomaa, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, participated in the official Lebanese delegation, offering remarks to the plenary meeting and delivering a presentation during a side event that highlighted the importance of sustainable production and consumption for countries throughout the Near East and North Africa.
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UN-ESCWA Conducts Strategic Review of Food and Nutrition Security in Lebanon The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA) published in May 2016 a strategic review of food and nutrition security in Lebanon. Based on the review, UN-ESCWA officials called for the Lebanese government to develop and implement an integrated national food and nutrition security strategy. The report highlighted Lebanon's vulnerability to global food price shocks; marginalization of the agricultural sector, evidenced by insufficient irrigation systems and low yield ratios; declining quality of nutritional patterns; and lack of social safety nets, particularly for Syrian refugees.
The World Food Programme commissioned UN-ESCWA to undertake the review. The review was drafted by a team of consultants who met with dozens of experts in the areas of food and nutrition security, including faculty members at the American University of Beirut. Read the strategic review online.
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March 2016 |
MS in Food Security Featured in AUB Graduate Council Newsletter The AUB Graduate Council has featured the newly launched MS in Food Security in its March 2016 newsletter, highlighting the innovation and the structure of the new graduate-level program. Find the feature online. |
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Food Security Program Featured on GoAbroad.com The Food Security Program at the American University of Beirut has been featured at GoAbroad.com. GoAbroad is an online, English-language resource for individuals searching for overseas study, internship, and work opportunities. Read the interview with FSP Coordinator Rachel Bahn online. |
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February 2016 |
AUB Students, Staff Participate in International Symposium on Biotechnology Students and staff from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences participated in the international symposium on "The Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition," from February 15-17, 2016. The symposium was organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, and featured the participation of universities and NGOs around the globe through web-seminars.
Participating AUB students and staff were drawn from a range of disciplines, including agriculture, agribusiness, ecosystem management, and food security; and students from other universities in Lebanon also joined the symposium. They engaged in thoughtful and substantive discussion about the role and implications of biotechnology for food production, nutrition, climate change, and food security, communicating directly with the international thought leaders gathered in Rome. Learn more about the symposium online.
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AUB Launches First MS in Food Security Program in MENA Region The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB has announced the launch of the MS in Food Security degree program, the first of its kind in the MENA region. |
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January 2016 |
ESDU Project: "Urban Agriculture Thrives in Lebanon's Concrete Jungle" The Environment and Sustainable Development Unit at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is piloting urban agriculture techniques in the Bourj Hammoud area of Beirut. The project is benefitting from support of the Near East Foundation.
Read More about the project. |
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November 2015 |
FAFS Dean of Calls for Sustainable Food Consumption in AFED Report, Conference
Dr. Nahla Hwalla, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, was a featured speaker at the Arab Forum on Environment and Development (AFED) annual conference held in Beirut on 16-17 November. The event was held under the title "Sustainable Consumption for Better Resource Management," and Dr. Hwalla spoke on the impact of food consumption patterns on the sustainability of human health and the environment. Her presentation offered highlights from a chapter included in the AFED annual report, which she co-authored with Rachel Bahn, coordinator of the Food Security Program at AUB; and Sibelle El Labban, senior research assistant at FAFS. An article in The Daily Star featured key findings presented at the AFED conference, and included a brief interview with Dr. Hwalla in which she emphasized the role of consumers in driving sustainable agricultural production and food security. The article was published on November 17.
More details on the AFED conference as well as the 2015 annual report are available online. |
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Diploma in Food Security Featured in AUB Graduate Council Newsletter The AUB Graduate Council featured the Diploma in Food Security in its November 2015 newsletter highlighting the innovation of the program as well as the reactions of recent alumni. |
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October 2015 |
FAFS Celebrates World Food Day with World Food Programme
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences celebrated World Food Day on October 22 with an event entitled "Tackling Food Insecurity in Lebanon and Beyond: The World Food Programme's Response." The event was cohosted by FAFS and WFP, and featured presentations by Gawaher Atif, the WFP Country Representative in Lebanon; and Bruno Minjauw, the Deputy Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in Lebanon. Speakers highlighted efforts to provide for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, as well as Lebanese host communities, before answering questions from the audience. A photo exhibit highlighting WFP programs around the globe was placed outside of the FAFS buildings before and after the event, allowing students, faculty, and guests a glimpse of WFP's efforts to tackle hunger and food insecurity. |
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September 2015 |
Food Security Program Joins IFPRI to Launch Lebanon Spatial Project The Food Security Program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) will jointly undertake the Lebanon Spatial data mapping project in the area of food security beginning academic year 2015/2016. IFPRI established the original Arab Spatial website as a regional and bilingual resource to post and map data on food security, in an effort to support research and learning on this topic in the MENA region. IFPRI is now establishing country-specific websites in collaboration with local partners, and has partnered with the American University of Beirut to establish the Lebanon Spatial website. Lebanon Spatial will support the dissemination of information and data on food security, for easier use by the general public, policymakers, and researchers. This will emphasize the importance of the Food Security Program at AUB and will underline AUB’s role as a regional thought-leader. The development of Lebanon Spatial will take place over the current academic year. |
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FAFS Welcomes the Food Security Center at the Universitat Hohenheim The Food Security Program at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences welcomed representatives from the Food Security Center at the Universitat Hohenheim to the AUB campus from September 14-15, 2015. The visit included a lecture by Professor Dr. Reiner Doluschitz on "Agriculture in Germany and Common Agricultural and Rural Development Policy of the European Union," a presentation by Dr. Nicole Schonleber on the Food Security Center, and a research roundtable discussion with FAFS faculty and staff. AUB and the Universitat Hohenheim signed an MOU in 2014, paving the way for further collaboration around food security.
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July 2015 |
AUB Professor Rami Zurayk Appointed to High-Level UN Food Security Body Professor Rami Zurayk, chair of the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, has become a member of the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition. The HLPE is a UN body that informs food security-related policies by providing independent, evidence-based analyses and studies.
Learn more about the HLPE and the Committee on World Food Security. |
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"Arab Food Supply Is Shaky, but Related Research Is Rare" Al-Fanar writes about food security in Arab countries, highlighting the instability of food supply. The article cites the perspectives of Dean Nahla Hwalla of the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at AUB, and experts from the International Food Policy Research Institute. The article also highlights AUB's new Food Security Program. Read the full article. |
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April 2015 |
AUB Hosts AFED Presentation on Food Security in the Arab World The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the Issam Fares Institute co-hosted a presentation of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development's annual report on "Food Security: Challenges and Prospects" on April 27, 2015. In their respective remarks, Dean Nahla Hwalla highlighted the new Food Security Program at FAFS, while faculty members Dr. Najim Farajalla and Dr. Rami Zurayk explored the issues of water security and political aspects of food security in the Arab world.
A video recording of the event is available via Youtube. Read press coverage of the event by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (in Arabic) and l'Orient le Jour (in French). |
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March 2015 |
Food Security Program Featured at Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture The American University of Beirut joined this year's Global Forum for Innovations in Agriculture in Abu Dhabi, UAE to promote its academic programs - including the new Food Security Program - among leading agribusinesses operating in the region. The Food Security Program offers multi-disciplinary, graduate-level courses suited to the needs of professionals. The GFIA is an annual event drawing hundreds of participants from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and North America.
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February 2015 |
AUB Awarded Second for Best Sustainable Practices on Food Security The Feeding Knowledge network has recognized the work of a research team from the American University of Beirut to expand the use of conservation agriculture techniques. The team won a second-place finish for Best Sustainable Development Practices on Food Security, in the category of sustainable natural resources management, against more than 200 competitors globally. The award is part of the EXPO Milano 2015, under the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life."
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December 2014 |
American University of Beirut Joins Presidents United to Solve Hunger On behalf of the American University of Beirut, President Peter Dorman has signed the Presidents United to Solve Hunger (PUSH). The PUSH initiative works to engage universities more fully in the effort to find sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition around the globe, and to support collaboration to expand a collective impact in teaching, research, outreach, and student engagement around the issue of food and nutrition security.
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November 2014 |
AUB Discusses Food Security at AFED Conference 2014 Faculty members and graduate students from the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences participated in the Arab Forum for Environment and Development's annual conference on "Food Security: Challenges and Prospects" held in Amman, Jordan from November 26-27, 2014. Dr. Shadi Hamadeh contributed a chapter on "Livestock and Food Security" to the conference report, while Dean Nahla Hwalla was featured in a short film on food security and served as a discussant on the contribution of science and technology to food security. FAFS graduate students Michelle Moawad and Muhammad Murtada played a leading role among student interns to the conference, gathered from around the MENA region.
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Al Hayat: Environment and Sustainable Development Unit Working to Advance Urban Farming, Increase Food Security
Al Hayat has reported on agriculture in Arab cities, noting the contribution of the American University of Beirut's Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) to advance urban farming in Amman, Jordan and Sanaa, Yemen. Urban farming is one promising approach to increase food security.
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May 2014 |
Global Food Security Index 2014 Highlights Progress, Gaps in Food Security
The Economist Intelligence Unit has released its Global Food Security Index 2014, assessing food security in more than 100 countries around the world. A dozen countries from the Middle East and North Africa are included in the Index, and collectively demonstrated improvements in food affordability, quality and safety over the previous year. MENA countries overall saw a decline of food availability from 2013 to 2014. READ MORE |
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February 2014 |
AUB Researchers Develop First Arabic-Language Tool to Assess Household Food Insecurity Recent research within AUB’s Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences (NFSC) has led to the release of the first Arabic-language tool to assess household food insecurity. This pioneering work provides a useful and culturally sensitive tool that may be used in Lebanon as well as in other countries of the MENA region, which suffers from high levels of food insecurity. |
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January 2014 |
IFI Explores a Nexus Approach to Water, Energy, and Food Security The Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World Program at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs held a presentation on an IFI research study and a panel discussion on "The Nexus Approach: The Road to Water, Energy and Food Security in the Arab World?" on January 22, 2014. The event featured Holger Hoff, Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute; Rabi Mohtar, Professor at Texas A&M University; Ralf Klingbeil, Regional Advisor on Environment and Water at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; and Nadim Farajalla, Associate Professor at the AUB Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences. |
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November 2011 |
SOAS Professor Lectures on the Economics of Food Security in Lebanon Professor Jane Harrigan of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London presented a lecture on "The Economics of Food Security in Lebanon" at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences on November 30, 2011. Video footage of the lecture is available via Youtube.
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June 2011 |
AUB Hosts Conference on Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, in collaboration with ICARDA, CIHEAM-IAMB, CNRS-Lebanon, and Green Line Lebanon, held a regional conference entitled "Food Security in the Middle East and North Africa: The Role of Academic and Research Institutions" at the AUB campus on June 2-3, 2011. Watch a brief video highlighting the conference via Youtube. Explore the conference website.
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