Nutrition is a universal human right. Population growth and a higher demand for food, together with a changing nutrition pattern, will put the environment, at global level, under a growing pressure in the coming decennia. This pressure will be very strong on regions with a high biodiversity due to the ever growing demand on arable land and an increasing demand for animal protein, which will negatively influence the global ecosystem, the global climate and the biodiversity. The aim of the conference is to highlight a number of topics dealing with nutrition, the demand for food and food production – past and future.

THE ROYAL ACADEMY FOR OVERSEAS SCIENCES and THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES of THE ROYAL ACADEMIES FOR SCIENCE AND THE ARTS OF BELGIUM organize this international conference

Aim of the conference

Nutrition is a universal human right. Population growth and a higher demand for food, together with a changing nutrition pattern, will put the environment, at global level, under a growing pressure in the coming decennia. This pressure will be very strong on regions with a high biodiversity due to the ever growing demand on arable land and an increasing demand for animal protein, which will negatively influence the global ecosystem, the global climate and the biodiversity. The aim of the conference is to highlight a number of topics dealing with nutrition, the demand for food and food production – past and future.

This conference will bring together scientists from the North and the South, with a diverse background: lawyers, sociologists, economists, demographers, bioengineers, agricultural experts, health experts, fieldworkers, … They will address the following major topics:

• nutrition as a universal right
• agricultural economy
• the role of women
• remote sensing and climate change
• soil utilization
• conservation and use of wild-life resources
• meat production
• fish farming
• pre- and post-harvest losses
• malnutrition

The focus will be on a high biodiversity region, the Congo Basin (not restricted to the tropical rainforest region).

For each of the major topics, a keynote speaker has been invited. Besides, a poster session will be organized. Authors of posters will have the possibility to explain in three minutes, during the plenary session, the essential results of their work. This procedure will allow a vivid and focused exchange of ideas during breaks and poster sessions.

Scientific Committee

• Baeteman Cecile, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Goyens Philippe, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Rammeloo Jan, National Committee for Biological Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Swinne Danielle, Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Symoens Jean-Jacques, Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences and National Committee for Biological Sciences
• Van de Vijver Bart, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, National Committee for Biological Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Van Ranst Eric, Universiteit Gent and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Verhasselt Yola, Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences

Organizing Committee

• Baeteman Cecile, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• De Boeck Filip, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Erpicum Michel, Université de Liège and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Goyens Philippe, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Rammeloo Jan, National Committee for Biological Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Van de Vijver Bart, National Botanic Garden of Belgium, National Committee for Biological Sciences and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Van Ranst Eric, Universiteit Gent and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences
• Wilmet Michèle, Université Libre de Bruxelles and Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences

Programme

30 September, 2013

Welcome Address

• Dirk Huyge, President of the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (RAOS)

Setting the Scene

• Jan Rammeloo, President of the Environment and Development Commission (RAOS) President of the National Committee for Biological Sciences

HUMAN ASPECTS

Nutrition, a Universal Human Right. Possible Conflicts with International Conventions. A lawyer’s View

• Speaker to be confirmed

Demographic Data from Conflict-affected Regions of the Congo Basin: Potential from the AfriPop and CEDAT Databases

• Catherine Linard, post-doctoral fellow, Université Libre de Bruxelles
• Debarati Guha-Sapir, professor Université catholique de Louvain
• Chiara Altare, research fellow, Université catholique de Louvain

Role of Women in Health and Nutrition

• Marleen Temmerman, director Department Reproductive Health & Research, WHO

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

Food Security and Food Production Situation of the DRC Congo Basin

Luc D’Haese, hon. professor Universiteit Gent & Universiteit Antwerpen

PHYSICAL ASPECTS

Soil Resources in the Congo Basin: their Properties and Constraints for Food Production

• Michel Ngongo Luhembwe, professor Université de Lubumbashi

Remote Sensing as a Tool for Monitoring Food Production in an Era of Climate Change

• Els Ducheyne, scientific director of Avia-GIS

1 October, 2013

BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS

Conservation and Use of Wildlife-based Resources

• Speaker to be confirmed

AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

Production of Animal Protein in the Congo Basin, a Challenge for the Future of People and Wildlife

• Pascal Leroy, professor Université de Liège

Fish Farming in the Congo Basin: Past, Present and Future

• Jean-Claude Micha, hon. professor Faculté Universitaire Notre-Dame de la Paix, Namur

Pre- and Post-Harvest Losses in the Congo Basin. The Dark Side of Biodiversity?

• Herwig Leirs, professor Universiteit Antwerpen

Biotech Plants in Developing Countries

• Nathalie Verbruggen, professor Université Libre de Bruxelles

MALNUTRITION

Nutritional Status of the Populations of the Congo Basin 

• Philippe Donnen, Professor Université Libre de Bruxelles
• Jean-Lambert Paluku Bahwere, Ecole de Santé publique (ULB), Consultant Valid Intl