Seeking Solutions to Food Insecurity Part of World IP Day Events

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In honour of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, UKZN InQubate, the University’s Technology Transfer Office, hosted a workshop focused on addressing the pressing global issues of food insecurity and undernourishment.

Held on the Pietermaritzburg campus, it brought together experts, stakeholders, and policymakers to explore how intellectual property can be leveraged to facilitate the development, protection and dissemination of technologies for improved food security.

Delivering a keynote address, Professor Joyce Chitja, Director of the African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) at UKZN, focused on exploring the current state challenges and opportunities in food security. She defined food security as ‘all people, at all times having physical, economic and social access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meet their dietary requirements and food preferences for an active and healthy life’.

Chitja listed global food and nutrition challenges as: the world being in recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty surrounding the Ukraine and other emerging wars; difficulties in food production and energy markets; accelerated hunger in terms of the Global Hunger Index and economic recession; uneven recovery of crops across countries and segments; poor quality of food for low-income groups; population growth and urbanisation; poverty and inequality; resource scarcity and environmental degradation as well as climate change.

Looking at the South African situation, she noted how food and nutrition challenges included: high unemployment rates; under six million taxpayers in a population of 60 million; over 18 million on permanent social grants and 10 million on the unemployment grant; and 30% of the population being stunted in growth.

Chitja highlighted change drivers namely urbanisation, population growth and climate change and noted how poor diets were an economic issue resulting in the perpetuation of the cycle of poverty because of an individual’s lower chances of success and reduced productivity and quality of life.

She said opportunities lay in advancing technologies among the different segments of the food system such as developing e-platforms for market access; integrated planning and governance mechanisms; improved collaborations across sectors including universities, industry, government and NGOs; sustainable food production methods; collaborative initiatives for global food security such as training; sustainable agricultural practices; genetic modification and crop improvement and precision farming.

Professor Julia Sibiya Dean of the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences provided background on the history of World IP Day. Celebrated annually, she noted this year’s theme titled, IP and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Building our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity and commented: ‘Promoting agricultural innovations and ensuring food security are essential elements of both the 2030 SDGs and the African Union 2063 agendas.’

Dr Denver Naidoo lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences reviewed innovative solutions to addressing food insecurity in Africa. Referring to how millions were affected by hunger and malnutrition on the continent, he said Africa possessed 60% of the world’s arable land but struggled to feed its population with an import bill of around 80 billion dollars.

Naidoo recounted how food insecurity threatened economic growth and stability, with the COVID-19 pandemic having exacerbated the issue with over 280 million Africans going to bed hungry daily. He said the answer to ensuring food security lay in producing more food on less land; the conservation of forests and promotion of sustainability; and the adoption of technologies geared towards African agriculture.

Highlighting the role of research in developing effective solutions for food insecurity, Naidoo said what was needed involved data-driven problem identification, innovative solution development, impact assessment and feedback, long-term sustainability projects, the utilisation of digital platforms, the promotion of agri-tech solutions, empowerment through digital literacy and innovative food distribution projects.

Patent Attorney at Spoor & Fisher Dr Thandanani Cwele explored the role of IP in incentivising innovations, referring to IP as creations of the mind he noted how patents protect inventions, while plant breeders’ rights protect new plant variations. With 20 to 25 years respectively of limited protection, he said patents dealt with specific genetic sequencing while plant breeders’ rights were granted if the variety was distinct, uniform and stable.

Other speakers at the workshop included Programme Manager at the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) Ms Vuyolwethu Gxotiwe, who shared financing and investment opportunities, and Editor at UKZN Press Ms Noxolo Mthethwa, who encouraged postgraduate students and academics to publish their research with the agency. 

A Q&A session was conducted during the session.

To view the World IP Day workshop on food insecurity solutions click here.

Words: Hlengiwe Khwela

Photograph: Nkosi Gcabashe