KU conference focuses on eco-smart agriculture

Experts link climate resilience to future food security

IV Report

KARACHI: Highlighting the growing urgency of climate-resilient food systems, the University of Karachi on Wednesday inaugurated a three-day international conference focusing on eco-smart agriculture and the role of stress-tolerant plants in ensuring future food security.

The conference, titled “Eco-Smart Agriculture: Effective Utilization of Stress-Tolerant Plants for Food Security and the Future,” is being organised by the Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilisation (Dr MAK-ISHU) in collaboration with SZABIST University. Scientists, academics, and researchers from Pakistan and abroad are participating in the event, which opened at the Chinese Teachers’ Memorial Auditorium.

Speakers at the inaugural session warned that climate change, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and rapid population growth are placing unprecedented strain on global food systems, making sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices essential rather than optional.

Former vice chancellor of the University of Karachi and eminent botanist Professor Emeritus Dr Muhammad Qaiser described climate change as one of the most serious threats facing humanity. He said rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental stress were already disrupting crop cultivation worldwide.

Citing global projections, Dr Qaiser warned that agricultural production could decline by nearly 50 percent by 2050, affecting staple crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and potatoes. He noted that the world’s population is expected to grow from the current 8.2 billion to around 9.2 billion by mid-century, further intensifying food security challenges.

He stressed the need to diversify crops and expand genetic resources, pointing out that while thousands of plant species were historically used for food, today the global food supply depends largely on just four or five major crops. “This narrow genetic base is dangerous,” he said, adding that wild relatives of crops—naturally resistant to drought and environmental stress—remain underrepresented in global gene banks.

Professor Dr Ali El-Keblawy of the University of Sharjah highlighted similar concerns in the Arab region, where land degradation, salinity, water scarcity, and repeated droughts are undermining agriculture. He cautioned that political instability combined with environmental stress could pose serious risks to food availability in the future, stressing the importance of eco-smart agriculture rooted in local resources and supported by biotechnology.

University of Karachi Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said food security has become a global issue, noting that developed countries have managed agricultural productivity through advanced technology despite fewer people working in the sector. For countries like Pakistan, he said, locally adapted and indigenous solutions must be prioritised.

Referring to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, he said the conference directly relates to Zero Hunger and Climate Action, urging researchers to ensure their work addresses real societal needs rather than remaining confined to academic discussions. He also pointed to the lack of integrated climate planning and rational policymaking as major contributors to Pakistan’s climate challenges.

A senior faculty member at SZABIST, Professor Dr Shahid, said such international conferences offer students and young researchers opportunities to learn from leading scientists and present their research.KU Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Dr Balqees Gul outlined the role of Dr MAK-ISHU in addressing soil salinity, water scarcity, land degradation, and food insecurity through scientific innovation.

In his welcome address, Dr MAK-ISHU Director Professor Dr Irfan Aziz said the conference aims to serve as a multidisciplinary platform for exchanging research, ideas, and technologies related to sustainable agriculture. Scholars from six countries, including China, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, and Sharjah, are participating, alongside researchers from across Pakistan. 

Photos courtesy: University of Karachi