Nalut University is set to host the prestigious second International Conference on Food and Nutrition. It is organised by the Medical Technology Faculty in collaboration with the Libyan Association for Food and Nutrition. The conference will unfold under the theme “Food Manufacturing and Safety: Balancing Reality and Aspirations.” This event will feature international contributions from Australia, Malaysia, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, alongside esteemed professors from Libyan universities.
Over two days, the conference aims to contribute to the development of Libya’s food industry by keeping pace with scientific advancements and spreading food culture awareness. This initiative is crucial for increasing consumer awareness of the dangers posed by non-standard food products and their impact on public health. The conference will address challenges in Libyan food manufacturing and propose potential solutions, alongside evaluating the country’s food and product regulatory scenario. A special focus will be on the quality of drinking water and improving the microbiological and health aspects of water used in food production.
Through its research papers, the conference also aims to raise awareness about the regulated use of food additives according to national and international updates, as well as highlight the role of nutrition specialists and the importance of nutritional therapy. Consumer protection will be a key topic, advocating for laws and legislations to ensure access to safe and healthy food.
Supported and sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, the conference will delve into several scientific themes. These include food manufacturing techniques, preservation, analysis, biotechnologies, catering to special dietary needs, and the impact of food additives on consumer health. Topics on food contamination, pesticide residues, pharmaceutical residues, heavy metals, and mycotoxins and their effects on general health will also be discussed.
The conference’s second theme, “Nutrition and Therapeutic Nutrition,” will address the general food and nutrition strategy in Libya. It will do this in relation to the global strategy, community awareness of negative dietary habits affecting health, and the role of therapeutic nutrition departments in health institutions. Additionally, the interaction between food and medication and its impact on treatment will be examined.
The papers will explore the role of food surveys in determining dietary patterns and developing strategies, as well as diseases related to food arising from nutrient deficiencies or genetic disorders.
The third theme of the conference will focus on the economics of food production and consumption. It will include discussions on achieving food security amid crises, the impact of changing food commodity prices on consumer purchasing power, as well as the role of automated packaging and food economics in achieving self-sufficiency. The encouragement of agricultural product exports and food value chains will also be explored.
Finally, the fourth theme will address sustainable agriculture, organic farming methods, efficiency in agricultural production, environmental and health impacts of pesticides and fertilizers, and future opportunities for medicinal and aromatic plants.
Dr. Naji Al-Hadi Aburas, the conference President, announced that the scientific committee received over 60 research papers, of which 35 were accepted. These papers cover a wide range of topics, from manufacturing and quality control to health issues and food-related legislations and regulations, with a significant focus on consumer protection.
The first International Conference on Food and Nutrition was held on June 14th, 2020, at the Industrial Research Centre in Tripoli, where it was agreed that Nalut University would host the second edition of this significant event.