Conference on ‘Sustainable Development Halophytes for Green Revolution’

A three-day international conference on ‘Sustainable Development: Halophytes for Green Revolution’ held at Karachi University Business School (KUBS), KU, organized by the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU) of the University of Karachi.

Conference on ‘Sustainable Development Halophytes for Green Revolution’

At international conference experts longing on the policies to endorse alternative solutions to tackle challenges of food insecurity in future.

Professor Dr Hans-Werner Koyro from Germany shared that people are getting older and constraint of getting good food is also getting higher and higher as the competition with food has increased over the years. There are around 2000 different types of halophytes around the world and still, the meaning of halophyte is not clear.

Dr Hans-Werner added that some labeled potatoes, which is for the most part used as a regular food item, as halophyte. Hence, there is a dire need for research-based use of plants for saline agriculture. We believe, many local halophytes of saline habitats which are already salinity tolerant can be shaped as future crops through concentrated direction-based research.”

For the time being, UNESCO France Director Dr Miguel Clusener-Godt shared that it was his second visit to the country and Karachi University as well and was delighted to see how academia and scientific bodies are moving forward in the field of halophyte biology.

UNESCO France Director said that higher education institutes are taking interest in halophytes and thinning out awareness and knowledge concerning the uses and benefits of halophytes. The youngsters are captivating interest in the topic which is a very positive and good sign as they have to take over in future and this is the right time for them to learn and execute.

Halophytes could also endow protection to the coastal lines and in some cases, Pakistan and other countries, are using plants as greenification as well. The structurized work approach should be adopted while working on halophyte projects that will bolster every aspect.