Food Security Issues
in Asia-Africa
“Strengthening the role of indigenous knowledge toward food security
in developing countries”
Introduction
Food security issues have been global issues
nowadays. Food security has many definitions World
Health Organization (WHO) describes it as a situation
when all people, at all time have physical and
economical access to sufficient, safe and nutritious
food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences
for an active and healthy life. Food security often
comes along with poverty issues. This food security
issues is quite complicated since they involve some
stages from supply, maintenance, distribution, and
policies. One approach will not be sufficient to solve all
the problems. Another problem is that this food
security issue is often specific in one location. The
challenge to provide food in the process of production
often depends on the agro-climate or the unique
natural resource in every locations which is not
typically the same for instance. Another challenge is
local culture of the communities really influences food
to be consumed by the people whether it is about the
type, amount, taste, color, and other related things.
Seeing the facts above, the possible optimal approach
which can be done is a specific approach that can
optimize and preserve the unique local knowledge to a
given culture or society (indigenous knowledge) which
can provide food and can give a continuous positive
impact to the improvement of community economy
and the decrease of poverty as well. Indigenous
knowledge is predicted to play an important role in the
next future especially in the transformation process of
developing countries to be the developed ones which
are based on the local knowledge. World Bank states
that the basic component of knowledge system of
every country is its indigenous knowledge which
covers skills, experience, insight of people which are
applied to maintain or improve their living. ‘Indigenous
knowledge is a critical factor for sustainable
development. Empowerment of local communities is a
prerequisite for the integration of indigenous
knowledge in the development process. The
integration of appropriate indigenous knowledge
systems into development programs has already
contributed to efficiency, effectiveness, and
sustainable development impact (World Bank, 2000).
Today, many indigenous knowledge systems are at risk
to become extinct because of rapidly changing natural
environments and fast pacing economic, political, and
cultural changes on a global scale. Many indigenous
knowledge are considered inappropriate for new
challenges or because of their slow adaptability. Many of
them also disappeared along with the intrusion of foreign
Purpose Participants
This one day seminar is actually has a purpose to
technologies or development new concepts that seem to The participants of this seminar are the Asian and
facilitate the cross-discipline discussion among the
be more promising for short-term gains without being African students who are studying in Wageningen
Asian and African students who are studying in and other nearest area, guest speakers related to the
capable of sustaining them. It will be wiser if we can give
Wageningen, the Netherlands. This discussion is selected issues.
more attention to this indigenous knowledge because no
expected to improve and encourage the awareness of
matter what, it is very important for the local community the students (future leaders of Asia and Africa) to
in which the bearers of such knowledge live and produce. come with new concepts of preservation and utilization The Schedule of seminar
We need to recognize it, value it and appreciate it. of indigenous knowledge in Asian and African
This seminar will be held in October 19th, 2009 in
countries especially in the developing countries.
Wageningen University and Research Center’s
A lot of indigenous knowledge have been found in Asia Campus.
and Africa. Countries in Asia and Africa are well known to
have unique, typical, and specific natural resource and
Scope of Seminar
agro-climatology. This condition encourages the richness This seminar is expected to cover several approaches
Registration and Contact Person
of unique customs and cultures including indigenous regarding to indigenous knowledge issue such as the Registration for oral presentation are now widely open.
knowledge of Asian and African countries. Today, these success or un-success story, positioning general food Please contact us: oneday.seminar.ppiw@gmail.com
countries seem to have similar problems related to security issues and also the history of Asia Africa for further information.
preservation of their indigenous knowledge and the relationship as well. However, this seminar will be
utilization of indigenous knowledge to solve food focused on indigenous knowledge in three main sub
insufficiency problem. Sharing and collaboration
issues: production technology, social aspect and Organized by:
culture and policy. Indonesian Student Association - Wageningen
between countries in Asia and Africa which have similar
problem is needed to be done. Many countries in Asia
and Africa have things in common in terms history and
national development. This can be proved with historical
experience series that inspired the struggle of Asian and
African people to fight for their freedom, to be
independent countries.
In Wageningen, there are quite many students who come
from Asia and Africa. Wageningen is one of the most
prestigious universities in the world with it competency in
the field of agriculture. This is one of the main reasons
why many students from all over the world come to
Wageningen including from Asia and Africa. This
population will possibly be the agents of change in their
own countries in the future and become influencing
characters in the world. For that reason, the discussion
among students coming from Asia and Africa is very
important especially the discussion about food security
issues and the solutions which is related to the
indigenous knowledge.