The Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT), in collaboration with the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and The World Academy of Sciences for Advancement of Science in Developing Countries Young Affiliates Network (TYAN), Republic of Tunisia, organized “5th ISESCO-COMSATS-INIT International Conference on Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food Security: Role of ICTs” on November 4 – 6, 2019 at Monastir, Republic of Tunisia. The Conference aimed at providing an interactive platform to academicians, scientists and researchers to deliberate upon the burning issue of food insecurity while underpinning the significance of Agriculture and Biotechnology. The conference highlighted the importance and role of information technology and its associated systems in enhancing agriculture productivity, elimination of hunger, improving nutrition and achieving food security. The scientists, researchers, technologists and faculty members from different parts of the world shared their knowledge and experiences on new developments and interventions of information and technology in the field of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food Security.

The conference commenced with the welcome addresses by Prof Dr. Jalila Ben Salah-Abbes, Member of TYAN Executive Committee. She welcomed the Conference participants and organizers and briefly touched upon the aims and objectives of the Conference.  After the welcome remarks by Dr. Jalila Ben Salah, H.E. Prof. Hedi Bel Hadj Salah, President of the Monastir University, Tunisia welcomed the Conference participants. In his welcome address, President of Monastir University emphasized the dire need of collective efforts from scientists, decision-making authorities and other stake holders to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agricultural growth.

Mr. M. Atiq ur Rehman, Senior Program Officer, INIT delivered the message of Dr. Tahir Naeem, Executive Director, INIT to the worthy participants of the conference. In his message, he apprised the audience about how agriculture is rapidly moving away from labour-intensive and traditional practices towards information-intensive models, the significant role of ICTs to enhance the agricultural productivity and empower the agricultural community in taking informed and quality decisions. He also talked about the combination of mobile technology and geographic information systems in providing accurate, specific and micro level information of soil water, nutrient etc. to farmers on the field and help them in informed decision making.  Speaking about the food security and role of ICTs in it, he talked about the importance of this issue during severe famine caused by extreme weather and population growth as food security is largely affected by climate change, shifts in weather patterns, increase in food prices and rapid growth of the global population. Lastly, he briefed the participants about different programs and activities of INIT and its efforts towards the promotion and development of ICTs among Muslim Ummah particularly among its members.

On behalf of Executive Director COMSATS Secretariat, Islamabad, Mr. Tajammul Hussain, delivered the message to the participants of the conference. In his message, he discoursed that United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls for action to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. However, the challenges to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals are wide-ranging. He also talked about how the rapidly growing population, climate-inflicted disasters and crop diseases are a serious threat to agriculture sector of a country. He emphasized that the ICTs present innovative and sustainable solutions to help overcome the digital divide between rural and urban establishments and developing and developed nations at large. He also highlighted the pivotal role of ICTs to vitalize sustainable agriculture, enhance food security and support rural livelihoods.

The first session of the conference began with the addresses on the topic of  “Agriculture and Sustainable Development”, the second session focused on “Change adaptation for Sustainable Agriculture”, the third session was on “Crop Improvement, Protection and Management”, in the fourth session the participants shared their knowledge on “Food Nutrition Security: New Concepts and Strategies”, the fifth session of the conference discoursed about “Medicinal Plants for Industry and Biotechnology Application” and  the sixth and last session of the conference was on “Food Safety Regulation and Standards”.

The Forum brought together experts from Arab Republic of Egypt, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Benin, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Tunisia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Sudan, People's Republic of China, Republic of Senegal, Sultanate of Oman, Republic of Philippine, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Uganda, Republic of Gambia, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Iraq, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of Italy

Participating Countries:

The conference was participated by Resource Persons and participants from the following 22 countries (given in alphabetical order):

1. Arab Republic of Egypt;
2. Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;
3. Federal Republic of Nigeria;
4. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
5. Islamic Republic of Iran;
6. Kingdom of Norway;
7. People’s Republic of Bangladesh;
8. People's Republic of China;
9. Republic of Algeria;
10. Republic of Benin;
11. Republic of Cameroon;
12. Republic of Gambia;
13. Republic of Iraq;
14. Republic of Italy
15. Republic of Kazakhstan;
16. Republic of Philippine;
17. Republic of Senegal;
18. Republic of Sudan;
19. Republic of Tunisia;
20. Republic of Turkey;
21. Republic of Uganda;
22. Sultanate of Oman;

Participating Institutions:

1. Agricultural Research Institute of Senegal (ISRA), Republic of Senegal;
2. Al-Nahrain University, Republic of Iraq;
3. American University in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt;
4. Busitema University, Republic of Uganda;
5. Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL), Republic of Sudan;
6. 
   
7. Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China;
8. Clisscra, Republic of Senegal;
9. Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
10. Diop University, Republic of Senegal;
11. Farabi Kazakh National University, Republic of Kazakhstan;
12. Federal University of Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
13. Industrial Technology Institute of Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;
14. Inter Islamic Network on Information Technology (INIT), Islamic Republic of Pakistan; and
15. Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Islamic Republic of Iran;
16. Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Kingdom of Morocco;
17. Jendouba University, Republic of Tunisia;
18. Karabuk University, Republic of Turkey;
19. Lab of Biomathematics and Forest Estimations, Republic of Benin;
20. Monastir University, Republic of Tunisia;
21. National Research Center, Arab Republic of Egypt;
22. Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (CRRHAB), Republic of Tunisia;
23. Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman;
24. The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Republic of Tunisia;
25. TWAS Young Affiliates Network, Republic of Tunisia;
26. Universita degli Studi di Milano, Republic of Italy;
27. University of Agder, Norway;
28. University of Benin, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
29. University of Carthage, Republic of Tunisia;
30. University of Dhaka, People’s Republic of Bangladesh;
31. University of Gambia, Republic of Gambia;
32. University of Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
33. University of Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
34. University of Maroua, Republic of Cameroon;
35. University of Philippines, Republic of Philippine;
36. University of Technology, Republic of Iraq;
37. Yarmouk University, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;

Resource Persons:

Following 36 speakers delivered lectures at the conference (given in alphabetical order)::

1. Ahmad T Al-Taani, Yarmouk University, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
2. Ahmed Al-Amiery, University of Technology, Republic of Iraq;
3. Bolanle Ojokoh, Federal University of Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
4. Christian Joseph Cumagun, University of the Phillippines, Republic of Philippines;
5. Eqbqal Mohammed Abdu Dauqan, University of Agder, Norway;
6. Etinosa Igbinosa, University of Benin, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
7. Etinosa Igbinosa, University of Benin, Republic of Nigeria;
8. Ismail Rakip Karas, Karabuk University, Republic of Turkey;
9. Lazhar Khriji, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman;
10. Leila Romdhane, University of Carthage, Republic of Tunisia;
11. Mohamed Farag, American university in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt;
12. Mossad A Abdel-Wahhab, National Research Center, Arab Republic of Egypt;
13. Natali Kossoumna Liba’a Unveristy of Maroua, Republic of Cameroon;
14. Negin Fallah Haghighi Seighalani, Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology (IROST), Islamic Republic of Iran;
15. Ramia Albakain, University of Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan;
16. Samir Abbes, Jendouba University Tunisia;
17. Zayadan Bolatkhan, Farabi Kazakh National University, Republic of Kazakhstan;
18. Abul Bashar Mir Md Khademul Islam, University of Dhaka, People’s Republic of Bangladesh;
19. Alix Frank Rodrigue Idohou, Lab of Biomathematics and Forest Estimations, Republic of Benin;
20. Amar Riba, Universite M; Hamed Bougara, Republic of Algeria,
21. Angelo Moretto, University degli Studi di Milano, Republic of Italy;
22. Anthony Ojokoh, Federal University of Technology, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
23. Mr. Awa Sarr, Cheikh Anta, Diop University, Republic of Senegal;
24. Deepani Upeka Rajawardhana, Industrial Technology Institute of Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka;
25. Emad Yousif Al-Sarraj, Al-Nahrain University, Repubic of Iraq;
26. Mr. Fei Lu, Chinese Academy of Sciences, People's Republic of China;
27. Fikayo Ezekiel Babatunde, University of Gambia, Republic of Gambia;
28. Lawrence Obeti Grism, Busitema University, Republic of Uganda;
29. Mr. Maguette Kaire, Clisscra, Republic of Senegal;
30. Mr. Mamoudou Abdoul Toure, Agricultural Research Institute of Senegal (ISRA), Republic of Senegal;
31. Mohammad Adil, University of Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
32. Mr. Muhammad Farooq, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman;
33. Mr. Wisal Elnour Mohamed Elhassan, CVRL, Sudan, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL), Republic of Sudan;
34. Asma Chebaane, CBBC, Republic of Tunisia;
35. Saoussen Ben Tiba, CRRHAB, Republic of Tunisia;
36. Syed Ghulam Musharraf, University of Karachi, Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

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