5TH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

UNIVERSITY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

5^TH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

4^th – 6^th September, 2025

Theme: Environmental Management and Food Security: The threats and Opportunities for Developing Economies

Environmental Management which focuses on practice of organizing human activities in order to limit their impact on the natural environment by protecting the land, flora and fauna, bodies of water, and the planet’s atmosphere is crucial for food security and our very survival on the plant. Various human activities contribute to environmental degradation including illegal mining, bush burning, deforestation, destruction of water sources, over exploitation of natural resources, poor waste management practices, emission of greenhouse gases, among others[1]. These practices mostly contribute to climate change, natural disaster and threatens food security of countries. Again, the planetary crisis (Climate Change, Pollution and biodiversity loss) is said to have threatened global food security.

Food security is a concept with different interpretation by different group of members in societies. However, the 1996 World Food Summit, defined food security as when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life[2]. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana define food security as good quality nutritious food hygienically packaged, attractively presented, available in sufficient quantities all year round and located at the right place at affordable prices (FASDEP, 2003)[3]. These two definitions emphasis the following dimensions: Physical availability of food, Economic and physical access to food, Food utilization, and Stability of the other three dimensions over time.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) (2022) has indicated that climate change is intensifying food insecurity across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with lasting adverse macroeconomic effects, especially on economic growth and poverty. Again, successive shocks from the war in Ukraine and COVID-19 pandemic have increased food prices and depressed incomes, raising the number of people suffering from high malnutrition and unable to meet basic food consumption needs by at least 30 percent to 123 million in 2022 or 12 percent of SSA’s population[4][5]. Ghana is also persistently confronting hunger and malnutrition, particularly in Northern Ghana and rural communities. Food security in Sub-Saharan Africa is threatened by natural and anthropogenic hazards such as: Climate Change, Flooding, Drought, Insect/Pest Infestation, Soil and Land degradation, Soil and Water Pollution, Poor application of Agrochemicals, Bushfires, other Poor farming practices and conflicts. Other challenges include low prices, poor infrastructure, and inadequate education prevail, the economic status and availability of farming inputs at affordable prices influence food production.  

Despite these threats, there are opportunities for developing economies to explore to address the environmental management and food security issues. For instance, FAO’s State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2024 indicates that food and agricultural trade grew significantly, from USD 400 billion in 2000 to USD 1.9 trillion in 2022, with food trade comprising about 85 percent of the total[6]. This means there are opportunities for job creation, technology development, policy restructuring to boost agriculture and related business, funding and capital injections in the sector to benefit from global trade for economic growth[7]. Environmental management practices can be reviewed and properly regulated to support sustainable food production and food security while conserving critical ecosystems.

Developing Economies have to take strategic measures to address threats from environmental management and food security by grabbing available opportunities in agriculture, technology and manpower as well as other natural resources to ensure sustainable development of their economies.

As the global agenda for zero hunger (SDG 2) is threatened by environmental practice, unsustainable agricultural practices, food loses, climate change. The conference, therefore, focus is very important toward achieving the SDG 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 17. As Ghana in particular is currently confronted with food security challenges and has resorted to grain import and other food stuff from neighbouring countries (Burkina Faso, and Cote Devoir).

The 5^th Sustainable Development Conference, therefore, focuses on discussing the environmental management practices and food security situation in developing economies by identifying the threats and opportunities that can be harnessed to mitigate the threats. The objectives include:

• exploring the interconnectedness between environmental management and food security in developing economies.
• identifying emerging threats such as climate change, land use changes, pollution, and biodiversity loss affecting food systems.
• examining innovative opportunities including climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, and circular economy practices.
• Examining the socio-economic implications of environmental management and food security on societies and economic growth.
• Discussing research findings, tools, and technologies that enhance environmental sustainability and food resilience.
• Outlining actionable policy recommendations for integrated environmental and agricultural governance.

The following thematic areas shall be covered by the conference:

• Sustainable land Use Management, Forest Resource and Agriculture
• Gender, Social Inclusion and Food Insecurity
• Public Health, Environment and Food Safety  
• Economics and Financing Food Systems
• Sustainable Infrastructure and Technologies for Food Security
• Ecosystems Conservation, Climate Change and Food Security

Important Dates

Call Abstracts – 11^th April, 2025

Deadline for submission of abstracts — 11^th July, 2025

Notification of decision on abstracts — 25^th July, 2025

Submission of full papers for conference proceedings — 8^th August, 2025

Submission of revised papers — 22^nd August, 2025

Guidelines for Abstract Submission

Please submit your abstract of 250 words and a maximum of 5 keywords to the email address conferences@uesd.edu.gh. Abstracts shall be subjected to peer-review, and only those that pass the peer-review process will be invited to present (Oral or Poster) at the conference. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 11^th July, 2025, at 23:59hrs GMT.

Publication

Conference Proceedings will be published in JESD.

Conference Fee

Delegate Gh¢ 1000.00 

UESD Staff GH¢ 700.00

Student Delegate – Postgraduate Gh¢ 500.00, Undergraduate – Gh¢150.00

International delegate $200.00

Online Delegate GH¢500.00 (Local and Foreign)

Registration

Early bird registration – 22^nd July, with 20% waiver

Normal Registration – 6^th September, 2025

Registration during the conference will be accepted.

Important things to Note

• Accommodation is not included in the conference fee. Information on preferential rates provided by local hotels will be advertised on the conference website in due course.
• Registration covers a presenter, attendance to all programme sessions, conference material, lunch, tea and coffee breaks, conference bag etc.

Conference Venue

University of Environment and Sustainable Development (Multi-Purpose Auditorium)

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[1] https://uomustansiriyah.edu.iq/media/lectures/5/5_2020_03_04!03_12_11_PM.pdf

[2] https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/food

[3] https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.com/articles/food-security-situation-in-northern-ghana-coping-strategies-and-related-constraints.pdf

[4] https://www.elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/087/2022/016/article-A001-en.xml

[5] https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2022/10/17/putting-africans-at-the-heart-of-food-security-and-climate-resilience

[6] https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/40ebbf38f5a6b68bfc11e5273e1405d4-0090012022/related/Food-Security-Update-112-January-17-2025.pdf

[7] https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/en/AUL-0614-1/Consultation%20Draft%20Food%20Security%20Review%2027_May_2014.pdf