Within its efforts to introduce and promote nutrition-sensitive agriculture in the educational sector, the Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences (FNHS) and the Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) launched an enriching workshop titled ‘Food as Medicine’. The informative event featured the presence of NDU President Father Bechara Khoury, FNHS Dean Dr. Jessy El Hayek, Major General Muhammad Al-Mustafa, President of the Food Safety Lebanese Commission Elie Awad, Representative of the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Salem Darwish, Representative of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture Sylvana Gerges, Representative of the Director General of the Ministry of Economy and Trade Dr. Elie Bou Yazbeck, and Dr. Patrick Cortbaoui, Managing Director at the Margaret A. Gilliam Institute for Global Food Security at McGill University. FNHS Chairperson Dr. Maya Abou Jaoude also moderated the event and introduced the guests to the highly anticipated workshop.
As part of her welcome speech, Dr. Maya Abou Jaoude provided participants with an overview of the workshop’s content and objectives. Highlighting the significance of such initiatives, she recalled the FNHS’ rigorous efforts to make this workshop possible. Dr. Abou Jaoude emphasized the crucial role of integrating nutrition-sensitive agriculture into the educational curriculum, noting its potential to transform health and nutrition outcomes. She elaborated on how the workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for and implement food-sensitive practices in various sectors.
As for FNHS Dean Dr. Jessy El Hayek, she welcomed attendees to this pivotal workshop on nutrition-sensitive agriculture, recognizing its local and global significance. She highlighted Lebanon's critical juncture concerning malnutrition and food insecurity, which prompted her to call for urgent collaborative action. Dr. El Hayek emphasized the workshop's role as a platform for dialogue, expertise exchange, and the formation of partnerships across organizational boundaries. She noted that this event marks the inaugural step toward a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing food security and nutrition in Lebanon. Concluding her address, she expressed deep appreciation for the contributions and efforts of FNHS members, both full-time and part-time, and offered special acknowledgment to Dr. Patrick Cortbaoui for graciously accepting the invitation to share his global expertise with the audience.
Following Dr. El Hayek’s address, NDU President Father Bechara Khoury took the stage to deliver his remarks. He began by highlighting a stark reality: society often relies on "medicine as food" rather than embracing the workshop’s theme of "food as medicine." Fr. Khoury also acknowledged that food insecurity constitutes a serious problem among the several issues ravaging the country. He additionally praised the FNHS’ continuous efforts aimed at organizing this workshop, maintaining that this initiative transcends the educational scope – it is an initiative that will help sustain future generations and safeguard their health and welfare. As an end to his speech, Fr. Khoury restated the University’s commitment to raising an upcoming generation that is well aware of appropriate food and nutritive habits and the positive impact of their implementation.
After Fr. Khoury’s speech, Major General Muhammad Al-Mustafa weighed in, noting the decline in values regarding food security within Lebanese society. He outlined a range of pressing issues including urban expansion, pollution, and water waste exacerbating Lebanon's food security challenges. Al-Mustafa stressed the importance of raising awareness and implementing appropriate measures to achieve food security and sustainability. Moreover, he highlighted the necessity of adopting healthier lifestyles to protect dietary and nutritive systems amidst current changes and challenges. Additionally, Al-Mustafa referred to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture regarding dietary patterns.
In turn, Dr. Patrick Cortbaoui had an intervention where he acknowledged the widespread issue of food insecurity, citing alarming statistics. He highlighted the substantial food wastage exacerbating the lack of food security and hindering access to food in numerous nations. Throughout the conference, Dr. Cortbaoui presented data regarding hunger and food insecurity worldwide. He actively interacted with the audience, discussing topics including the monopolistic control of food supplies, inadequate infrastructure, and related health concerns. Dr. Cortbaoui also shared his personal endeavors in raising awareness about this pressing issue and contributing to the improvement of global food security.
In conclusion, this insightful workshop successfully represented a learning opportunity for participants, providing attendees with additional knowledge concerning nutrition-sensitive agriculture and appropriate food security measures. By uniting food experts under a common goal, this initiative reiterated the University’s steadfast mission to promote student well-being and safety within its walls. As participants look back on their learning, they're encouraged to use their new knowledge to help achieve food security and sustainability for everyone.