Professor Chris Elliott's keynote address really hit home. He spoke about how conflicts and politics around the world directly impact the food on our plates. As I listened, I had a feeling he’d bring up Sri Lanka sooner or later, he did.
As someone who had a front-row seat to Sri Lanka's economic downfall, it's a topic that still stirs mixed emotions in me. I witnessed the disastrous effects of shifting abruptly to organic farming—driven by political motives and ideological advice from religious leaders, rather than practical, science-based insights.
Through my professional background working in testing laboratory, I saw the immense difference between organic and inorganic fertilizers. My mother's government service background, meant that I had unconsciously mapped all the political issues, over the years, understood the current administrative issues while watching public sector officials resigning in protest over the abrupt decisions. The country's food security, economy, and public health spiralled deeper into crisis. Families sacrificed meals, malnutrition among children soared, and the Central Bank ran dry.
Professor Elliott closed his address with a quote: “If the political will is there, we can solve anything.” But that will isn't just the responsibility of politicians, it’s on all of us. At the end of the day, our plate of food is shaped by the ethics of politics, sustainability, and economics.
The Sri Lankan crisis could have been mitigated, but it’s a stark reminder of the consequences when decisions are not based on practical realities. #IFSTAC24 #SriLanka
Welcome to Leeds, and welcome to #IFSTAC24!
With almost 200 delegates in the room, we’re delighted to have kicked off our much-anticipated conference with our keynote speaker Professor Chris Elliott.
We’ll be bringing you updates from Leeds throughout the day as we work through our world-class programme of speakers.
Thanks again to University of Leeds for hosting us at the beautiful Cloth Hall Court!
#IFSTAC24
Custom Software Solutions Account Manager @ NashTech
1wFantastic 🚀 can't wait to hear all about it, I imagine it's been a huge success!!