During the first two days of the workshop, researchers presented their papers on the use of space technologies in the field of water security, water management, food security and agriculture. PHOTO: FILE
Data sharing at the global level, research collaborations and problem-oriented public programmes can ensure food and water security around the globe.
These recommendations were presented in Islamabad on Friday at the end of the five-day “International workshop on the integrated use of space technologies for food and water security”.
The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) conducted the workshop in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET).
The event brought together researchers and experts from Pakistan and around 30 other countries.
During the first two days of the workshop, researchers presented their papers on the use of space technologies in the field of water security, water management, food security and agriculture.
Space technologies, which include remote sensing and weather forecasting, can provide valuable data about the Earth’s surface and different climatic variables, which would otherwise be difficult to collect on the ground, it was stated at the workshop.
The data can be mapped, processed and analysed to reveal vital information about water resources, agriculture, food production and global climate change.
On the penultimate day of the workshop, participants were divided into three working groups to prepare recommendations on water management, mountains and food security.
Seyed Hamidreza Sadeghi, professor at Iran’s Tarbiat Modares University, presented the findings of the working group on food security and agriculture.
Sadeghi’s group suggested food insecurity advocacy and implementation of problem-oriented programmes which are “economically efficient, technically sound and socially acceptable.”
Dr Mohammed Dabboor, a researcher working for the Canadian government, proposed active collaborations to improve existing water management portals. Dabboor also emphasised the need for data sharing and trainings to build capacity.
The working group on mountains suggested natural resources and communities in mountain areas should be put on national agendas and international treaties to ensure their protection.
At the closing ceremony, SUPARCO Chairman Ahmed Bilal said data acquired through space technology could be coupled with information on population control and agriculture to better fight food insecurity.
But, he said, most of the developing countries face disconnects between decision making and the outcomes of space technology applications regarding water and food.
“We need to get decision makers together and help them understand the problem so they can take the right actions,” Bilal said.
Lorant Czaran, project director of United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response, stressed the need for a collaborative effort in using space technologies for a better future.
“Such workshops present an opportunity to enable sharing of knowledge across countries, across continents and identify opportunities for cooperation that will lead to further actions for societal benefits,” Czaran said.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 16th, 2013.
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