🌿 Why Preserve a Healthy Ecosystem for Tomorrow? 🌏

A healthy ecosystem is our natural capital! We could not live without it. Biodiversity is the key indicator of the health of our ecosystem.

We see that world population is projected to grow to 9.7 billion by 2050. This creates an increasing pressure to provide adequate healthcare, food and water for us.

Therefore, application of the One Health, EU Green Deal and Fit for 55 principles is really valuable to combat with the issues such as food security, climate change, environmental pollution, biodiversity, food safety, antimicrobial resistance and others and keep the ecosystem healthy.

Today nearly 75 percent of all emerging human infectious diseases in the past three decades originated in animals (zoonotic diseases), especially wildlife.

The primary drivers behind these zoonotic diseases are linked to human activities, including changes in ecosystems and land use, biodiversity loss, deforestation, intensified agriculture, antibiotic and pesticide usage, urbanization, wildlife destruction, and global travel, transportation and trade.

A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach is essential, covering environmental and ecosystem health, climate-aware investing, social sciences, ecology, wildlife, land use, and biodiversity.

Let's combine our efforts to ensure the well-being of animals, humans, and the environment. Together, we can secure a healthier ecosystem for generations to come!

Have issues for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services? Let's discuss and work towards to create a sustainable ecosystem services!

Keep ecosystem healthy for tomorrow!

Photo by Yusuf Tokdemir, Şavşat, Turkey

Transforming Agri-Food Value Chains!

In my extensive experience within the agrifood industry, I've witnessed the challenges faced by agribusinesses and food SMEs in developing countries.

As they strive to navigate the global market, competition continues to intensify. However, there are fundamental strategies that can propel them into the international arena and foster business growth.

1. Ensuring Food Quality and Safety: Establish food safety management system. Ensure product quality and safety along the value chain. Meet international standards. Test, test & test!

2. Create Skilled Labor and Effective Leadership: Invest in organizational capacity and skills development. Create a well-trained workforce and capable leadership. Ensure adaptability and competence.

3. Networking & Access to Finance: Focus on the networking, partnerships and financial sourcing. Realize investment plans to scale operations. Enhance innovation, expansion, and agility in the global markets.

4. Leverage Advanced Technologies: Stay updated with the latest technologies, including "Automation & AI", "Cloud & Mobile", "IoT", "FinTech & Blockchain" and Data Analytics. Embrace technology to streamline processes and stay ahead of the curve. Ensure efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness.

5. Optimizing Production Costs: Produce at a low cost without compromising quality. Create competitive advantage in the market.

In today's fast-evolving landscape, maintaining and expanding international market shares in agriculture and the food industry requires effective food systems. This involves compliance with food safety regulations, offering top-tier services and trade procedures, and innovating in response to the dynamic preferences of the modern consumer, who values health and diversity in agri-food products.

EU-TAF Project. Visit to Darmmess. Producer of Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Souri Olives in Dier Mimas, Southern Lebanon.

Have questions or insights to share about agrifood value chain transformation? Let's discuss and work towards creating a productive, competitive, sustainable, and internationalized agrifood enterprise!

Protect Biodiversity & Ecosystem services!

Key drivers for digital health in personalized nutrition and wellbeing by 2035

I think that we will witness significant developments in personalized nutrition and wellbeing in the future years. This means that we have to consider digital transformation in the agrifood industry to create a sustainable growth and internationalization.

So what should we focus on? Let’s look at the most important drivers:

· Technology advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics

· Genomic research in human genomics and agrigenomics

· Wearable devices and sensors

· Health data integration and interoperability

· Personalized gut microbiome analysis

· Telemedicine and virtual health

· Digital biomarkers

· Social determinants of health

· Personalized mobile applications

· Policy and regulatory support

All these drivers will positively affect the human nutrition and wellbeing and this should be considered by the agrifood industry in the strategic business growth action plans.

On the other hand, I believe that we have to consider healthy active lifestyle and continue to make healthy physical activities (2.5 to 5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity) each week. This will contributes to our wellbeing, and preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases.

Have questions?