Shashi Bhooshan Sharma
Founder Chairman of the World BioProtection Research Foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/paving-path-bio-revolution-agriculture-power-shashi-sharma Working on planetary health related issues such as Towards Building a Global Health System for the Planet: A Vision for the Future: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/towards-building-global-health-system-planet-vision-future-sharma
A Call to Action for Planetary Health: Integrating Ecology Budgets into a Global Organization https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/call-action-planetary-health-integrating-ecology-budgets-sharma
Founder Chairman of the World BioProtection Research Foundation. Over 35 years of senior level international experience and exposure of working in the food and agriculture and market access and trade sectors with emphasis on sustainability of the managed and natural ecosystems. During my long career, I have served in various capacities and roles of board chair, board member, consultant, coordinator, director, leader, manager, mentor, policy maker, president, professor, regulator, scientist, science leader, trustee, and volunteer for a diversity of programs and organisations. Some significant positions that I have held include Professor and Chair in Biosecurity and Food Security at Murdoch University, Australia; Director and Chief Plant Health Manager, Government of Western Australia; Founder Co-Director of Australia-China Centre for Abiotic and Biotic Stress Management, a joint centre of Murdoch University and Northwest University, China. Since 2018, I have served on a number of boards and committees and continue to consult, advise, and write about variety of issues, mostly to do with planetary health, natural environment, sustainability, food security and biodiversity conservation. My qualifications include a Master of Science and a PhD from the Indian Agriculture Research Institute in a plant health discipline.
Shashi Bhooshan Sharma
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for sharing information on an important project - Strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems to achieve food security and nutrition in the context of urbanization and rural transformation. The proposal is well researched and comprehensive. The project team must be congratulated for this excellent work. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback. The project aims to address the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition in urban and peri-urban areas resulting from urbanization, rural transformation, and policy neglect. However, it could benefit from additional information on specific interventions, policies, and best practices that have been successful in strengthening urban and peri-urban food systems. Additionally, it would be helpful to discuss the challenges of implementing such interventions and policies in different contexts and the need for a tailored approach to suit different urban and peri-urban areas. There appear to be some potential gaps that could be addressed. Here are a few examples:
1. While the proposal discusses the importance of addressing food security and nutrition in urban and peri-urban areas, it does not provide clear goals or objectives for the project.
2. There is limited discussion of policy solutions to the some of the challenges faced by urban and peri-urban food systems. It does not include a comprehensive discussion of potential policy solutions to these challenges.
3. The consideration given to concerns relating to equity and social justice appears to be inadequate. A detailed analysis of how these inequalities are produced or perpetuated by food systems may be helpful in developing plans for addressing these inequalities.
4. While the proposal notes the lack of city-level data and empirical evidence to inform decision-making on urban and peri-urban food policy, it does not provide a plan for how to address this data gap in the proposed project. Without data and evidence, it may be difficult to make informed decisions and ensure that the project is effectively addressing the identified issues.
5. Inclusion of policy and preparedness provision for ensuring biosecurity of the urban and peri-urban food systems.
6. Emphasis on food education such as implementation of concepts like Shokuiku.
In addition to the above, the project may benefit from further consideration of the following to strengthen urban and peri-urban food systems: