Growing threats of food insecurity, water scarcity: Experts underscore need for urgent adoption of climate-smart tech, scientific innovation

ISLAMABAD: Scientists at an international conference on Tuesday called for urgent adoption of climate-smart technologies and scientific innovation to tackle Pakistan’s growing threats of food insecurity, water scarcity, environmental degradation, and public health challenges.

The experts expressed these views at the International Conference & Expo on Life Sciences (ICELS-2026) titled “Bio-Innovations for a Changing Climate: Science, Sustainability and Solutions,” organized by the Faculty of Sciences at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi in collaboration with Himalaya Hemp & Health (Pvt) Ltd and Evolution EduTech Pakistan.

The participants stressed the importance of interdisciplinary scientific research, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development to address emerging global environmental and food security issues.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Rahmatullah Qureshi said universities must play a leading role in innovation, research, and societal progress. He observed that climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, food insecurity, and emerging diseases require urgent collaborative scientific responses at both national and international levels.

He said the Faculty of Sciences at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi had developed research and academic linkages with leading international institutions.

Prof Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman highlighted the need for climate-smart scientific solutions to overcome Pakistan’s increasing agriculture, water security, and health-related challenges, while appreciating the organizers for arranging a globally significant scientific forum. He appreciated the efforts of the Faculty of Sciences and collaborating organizations for organizing a globally relevant scientific forum.

Prof Dr Raza Bhatti warned that rapid environmental degradation and unchecked exploitation of natural resources were disrupting ecological balance despite nature’s self-regulating capacity.

Representing the US State Department, Kevin Sessink, Senior Facility Manager said that the e conference’s will play an important role in strengthening global scientific cooperation and creating opportunities for young researchers and students through interdisciplinary engagement and international exposure.

Prof Dr Khalid M Khan (S.I.), former vice-chancellor of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University and former president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, termed climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, glacier melting, and environmental degradation as some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. He said that sustainable development and climate resilience could only be achieved through scientific innovation, evidence-based policies, and strong interdisciplinary cooperation.

The conference featured keynote lectures and technical sessions by experts from Turkiye, Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Poland, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan on climate-smart agriculture, medicinal plants, nanotechnology, biodiversity conservation, wastewater management, biotechnology, sustainable food systems, artificial intelligence, and renewable natural resources.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026