Pulses and Food Security Discussion Forum

The National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) is hosting a national Discussion Forum on Pulses and Food Security, in honour of the International Year of Pulses 2016 (IYP2016) as declared by the United Nations. This is done in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST) Multilateral Cooperation; Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF); and AGT Foods Africa (who is leading the private sector initiative for the IYP2016).

The NSTF will promote food security by drawing stakeholders together at this Discussion Forum. Linking this broad topic to science and technology means that agro-processing opportunities will be an important part of the discussion.

The discussion forum has the following aims:

• Raising awareness: To raise awareness of the benefits of producing and eating pulses
• Government: To engage with government departments about food security issues and policies, as well as the promotion of pulses
• Research: To showcase research related to pulses in South Africa, and promote further research
• Technology: To showcase technologies related to the cultivation, processing and production of pulses and products using pulses
• Key issues: To identify key issues relating to the use and production of pulses and food security
• Grow the associated industries: To identify ways to promote the cultivation, processing and consumption of pulses, and grow the associated industries
• Public and youth: To identify ways to raise awareness and educate the public, including the youth
• The following outcomes are envisaged:

1. Report with recommendations to be submitted to DAFF, DST, Department of Social Development, and Department of Basic Education
2. Ensure that pulses are included in the Government’s policies regarding food security
3. Formulating an outline for a 10-year plan to increase research investment to close yield gaps for pulse crops in South Africa, as a contribution towards the envisaged global IYP2016 plan: “By the end of 2016, IYP will deliver a 10-year plan for $100 million USD in increased public and private research investment to sustainably close yield gaps for pulse crops around the world.”
4. List of pulse-related research projects, both public and private, that are currently conducted in SA
5. List of research themes and topics that should be further researched, submitted to the National Research Foundation

Practical details:

Date: 2-3 June 2016
Time: 08:30 for 09:00 to 16:30 (Day 1 and 2)
Venue: Emperors Palace, Convention Centre, 164 Jones Road, Kempton Park, Gauteng (click here for map, directions and info)
Registration: RSVP your attendance online by no later than 31 May 2016
***Important: note the registration information at the bottom of this invitation***
Programme: Click here

Selected quotations:

(See Background of organisations document for full details)

• “My vision for the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors, as catalysts for radical socio-economic transformation, is food security for all…” (Minister Zokwana – DAFF)
• “The IYP2016 aims to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition. The Year will create a unique opportunity to encourage connections throughout the food chain that would better utilize pulse-based proteins, further global production of pulses, better utilize crop rotations and address the challenges in the trade of pulses.” (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO))
• “At a time when the world is looking for new ways to build peace and sustainable development, people must rely on the power of intelligence to innovate, expand their horizons and sustain the hope of a new humanism.” (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO))
• “Linking science to society, public understanding of science and the participation of citizens in science are essential to creating societies where people have the necessary knowledge to make professional, personal and political choices, and to participate in the stimulating world of discovery.” (UNESCO, re Science and a sustainable future)

Registration information***

Non-Member Organisations of the NSTF: Attendance is open for anyone interested butnon-members of the NSTF are charged a R2,000.00 (excluding VAT) registration feewhich includes attendance, documentation relating to the event, conference stationery, refreshments and lunch. OR non-member organisations are invited to become members of the NSTF at a nominal annual membership fee and then participate in NSTF events free of charge throughout the year. Click here to apply for membership.

Background

About the International Year of Pulses: The United Nations (UN) declared 2016 as the IYP2016. NSTF embraced the celebration of the International Year of Pulses in its planning for 2016, which started last year. The NSTF aligns some of its activities with the UN theme every year and also participates in UNESCO programmes in South Africa. UNESCO, as a UN body, encourages its member countries to initiate activities in terms of the UN themes. In this regard, there is ongoing collaboration with the UNESCO National Commission in South Africa, the DST and the NSTF.

About the NSTF: The National Science and Technology Forum is a stakeholder body for all SET (science, engineering, technology) and innovation organisations in South Africa, and has more than 100 organisational members. The NSTF is registered as a non-profit company. In existance since 1995, the NSTF has a proud history of engagement with SET policy issues, the promotion of SET and discussions around SET-related matters. The NSTF has organised the prestigious NSTF Awards for researchers and other SET-related professionals, since 1998.

The NSTF is honouring the IYP2016 in various ways:

• The theme of the annual and prestigious NSTF Awards this year is Pulses. The NSTF Awards Gala Dinner and the annual Who’s Who booklet will promote the IYP2016 in spectacular fashion. On the NSTF website, a banner for the IYP2016 and the NSTF Awards, has been displayed prominently since December 2015.
• The Special Annual Theme Award this year made by the NSTF, is for an outstanding contribution to science, engineering, technology and innovation, through Crop Science and Food Security. The Call for nominations for this Award was made, together with that of the other categories, in October 2015.
• 136 Nominations across ten different categories of the NSTF Awards have been received, and the NSTF Adjudication Panel has started its work on 11 April 2016.
• The NSTF decided to host this Discussion Forum on Pulses and Food Security in collaboration with relevant partners.