Journal of Food Processing & Technology

The challenges of peri-urban farmland in developed countries and developing countries for food security: The new realities of climate change and variability

Global Food Security and Sustainability Conference

September 05-07, 2016 Beijing, China

Christopher R Bryant, Antonia D Bousbaine, Terence Epule Epule and Mamadou A Sarr

University of Montreal, Canada
University of Guelph, Canada
University of Liege, Belgium
Centre de Suivi �?cologique, Sénégal

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Food Process Technol

Abstract:

Food security deals with issues of food �??quality�?�, sustainable agricultural practices and accessibility to impoverished urban populations. In many developed countries, many large cities are surrounded by high quality farmland resources in temperate climates (e.g. in North America and Western Europe). A rapidly emerging reality is the differential impact of Climate Change and Variability (CCV) on farming in different areas and the need for appropriate agricultural adaptation to CCV. In many developed countries, appropriate adaptation can maintain food production levels even though crop composition may change. However, in many developing countries (e.g. in North and West Africa) existing climate conditions and CCV can reduce peri-urban areas�?? ability to contribute to national and local food security. Two challenges are: Short of reversing CCV, many developing countries will become more dependent upon food imports from developed countries-what does this imply? And; this increases the need to conserve farmland resources in developed countries, a real challenge given continuing urban development pressures. How can agricultural management and planning in such areas integrate food security both locally and internationally and conserve their farmland resources? This is illustrated using a number of pertinent examples from different countries.

Biography :

Christopher R Bryant has completed his Doctorate in 1970 from the London School of Economics and Political Science. His research has been focused on “Peri-urban agriculture and its relationships with cities for almost 50 years, the adaptation of agriculture to climate change and variability (25 years) and local and community development (30 years)” with extensive publications and communications in all three domains. He has been a Professor at the University of Waterloo and the University of Montreal, and is currently Adjunct Professor at the Universities of Montreal and Guelph.

Email: christopher.robin.bryant@gmail.com