Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring safe food and reducing wastage of food.
He emphasized that creating an effective safe food management system requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including both public and private sectors. The minister called for unity among stakeholders to work together towards building a healthy future generation, which will play a pivotal role in shaping a smart Bangladesh.
He said this while inaugurating the 10th International Safe Food Forum, organized under the theme ‘Keeping food safe and nutritious and preventing loss’ held at a city hotel on Sunday.
The day-long event, jointly organized by the International Finance Corporation and Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA), aimed to foster collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure safe and nutritious food and address the issue of food waste.
Addressing the attendees, Minister Majumdar stated that the event marked a significant milestone in the global commitment to ensuring safe and nutritious food. He emphasized that food security is a crucial prerequisite for the development of a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable nation.
The minister further urged stakeholders and policymakers to shed light on the challenges faced by the country’s food security during the dialogue and discussions held at the forum.
He stressed the need for comprehensive and effective measures to address the multifaceted problem of ensuring safe food across all food categories. This would require extensive research and development, as well as adequate investment in capacity building and science-based research. The minister suggested exploring digital and smart investments to enhance food safety initiatives.
The minister expressed optimism that the forum’s discussions and agenda-based seminars would pave the way for cooperative partnerships in ensuring the safe food of the country. He highlighted the importance of collective efforts in achieving this goal.
During the conference, BFSA Chairman Qayyum Sarkar presented the keynote speech in which he discussed the activities and various laws implemented by the organization to ensure safe food in Bangladesh. Despite facing various obstacles, Sarkar emphasized that the authority is committed to enhancing food safety.
He further emphasized the forum’s potential in developing a road-map to improve the quality of food products in Bangladesh and boost foreign trade in the sector.
The International Safe Food Forum served as a platform for stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue, share insights, and establish partnerships to ensure safe, nutritious food and reduce food waste in Bangladesh. The collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors are crucial for building a sustainable and food-secure nation.
Acting secretary of ministry of food Dr Salma Momtaz, additional secretary of ministry of agriculture RabindrashriBarua, and department of nutrition and food safety of WHO Scientist Simone MoraesRaszl also spoke among others.
