The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry and the Chamber of Food Engineers met at a seminar titled “Food Safety-One Health” and “Innovative Approaches in Food Packaging” on the occasion of October 16 World Food Day.

In the seminar organized in two sessions, Near East University Food Engineering Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Perihan Adun gave a speech on “Food Safety-One Health” and then Sakarya University Food Engineering Department Head Prof. Dr. Zehra Ayhan discussed the topic “Innovative Approaches in Food Packaging”. The seminar ended with a Question and Answers session and the presentation of a plaque.

Near East University Faculty of Agriculture Food Engineering Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Perihan Adun made a remarkable presentation with the “One Planet, One Health” approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health. In her presentation, she emphasized the connection between human health and ecosystems and the importance of food safety.

She also stated that access to safe and sufficient food, which is one of the basic human rights, is critical not only for health but also for sustainable development and the preservation of biodiversity. Referring to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, he stated that food is the most basic human need after air and water. She also drew attention to global health threats such as global hunger, climate change and the increase in the spread of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans) in her presentation.

The “One Health” concept emphasized by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adun is an integrated approach that optimizes not only human health but also the health of animals and plants. She touched on the fact that this approach plays an important role in preventing global epidemics, ensuring food security and preserving biodiversity.

Finally, she stated that science and art are like the two wings of a bird and that societies that can use these two wings can achieve freedom.

The Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry Erçin Tekakpınar said, “What can we highlight and discuss as a result of this seminar regarding food? I want to focus on those points.” Stating that more than 40 companies with international standards in the food and beverage sector export to 18 different countries, primarily Turkey, Tekakpınar emphasized that they need to establish strong collaborations between the agricultural and industrial sectors, encourage innovation, strengthen the technological infrastructure and develop new production techniques in line with the principle of environmental sustainability.

The President of the Chamber of Food Engineers Beste Oymen stated that they came together today to celebrate World Food Day and emphasize the importance of food in life once again.

The President of Gika-KOOP İçim Çağıner Kavuklu expressed that she was very honored to come together today on the occasion of World Food Day.

Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Hüseyin Çavuş also stated that sustainable agriculture, food safety and waste were mentioned in the speeches at the seminar, and that all of these were important.