JP Nadda Talks About Pesticide Risks and Plastic Waste at Global Food Regulators Summit 2024
Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda expressed concern about the risks posed by pesticide residues in food to human health. He urged for more widespread global adoption of organic farming and alternative pest control methods. Speaking at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024, Nadda said, “The pesticide residues in food pose risks to human health. India’s efforts in promoting organic farming and alternative pest control methods are steps in this right direction, but more widespread adoption is needed globally.”
Nadda also highlighted the increasing plastic waste, which makes up 80% of marine pollution. He mentioned reports revealing the alarming presence of microplastics in humans and emphasized India’s efforts in developing eco-friendly packaging solutions. “India’s efforts in developing eco-friendly packaging solutions are crucial for reducing environmental impact and ensuring these alternatives are safe for health,” he said.
The Union Minister announced the establishment of the National Research Foundation with a budget of almost 5.96 billion US dollars from 2024 to 2028 to scale up research across various sectors, including food safety.
Nadda emphasized the importance of pure food in achieving mental clarity and spiritual liberation, citing the Upanishads. He said, “When food is pure, the mind becomes pure, and when the mind is pure, memory becomes steady, and when memory is steady, all the knots of the heart, ignorance, doubts, attachments are untied, and one attains liberation.”
The summit, organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) along with World Food India 2024, took place at the Bharat Mandapam from September 19 to September 21. It saw delegates from over 70 countries and 30 international organizations, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Codex Alimentarius Commission, the European Food Safety Authority, and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, USA.
Key highlights of the summit included the introduction of the State Food Safety Index (SFSI) 2024, which assesses the food safety performance of Indian States and Union Territories, and the launch of several innovative initiatives aimed at transforming food safety practices and information sharing. This includes a new website dedicated to Food Import Rejection Alerts (FIRA) and the unveiling of Food Import Clearance System 2.0 (FICS 2.0), an advanced version of the Food Import Clearance System for faster processing and transparency.
Doubts Revealed
JP Nadda -: JP Nadda is a politician in India. He is a Union Minister, which means he is part of the central government.
Pesticide residues -: Pesticide residues are tiny amounts of chemicals left on food after farmers use pesticides to kill pests. These can be harmful if not properly managed.
Plastic waste -: Plastic waste refers to used plastic items that are thrown away. It can harm the environment because plastic takes a long time to break down.
Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 -: This is a big meeting where people from different countries come together to talk about food safety and regulations.
Organic farming -: Organic farming is a way of growing food without using synthetic chemicals like pesticides or fertilizers. It is better for the environment.
Eco-friendly packaging -: Eco-friendly packaging is made from materials that are good for the environment. They can be recycled or break down easily.
National Research Foundation -: The National Research Foundation is a new organization in India that will support scientific research. It has a big budget to help scientists.
5.96 billion US dollars -: This is a lot of money, equal to about 49,000 crore rupees. It will be used for research in India.
FSSAI -: FSSAI stands for Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. It makes sure that the food we eat is safe.
World Food India 2024 -: World Food India 2024 is an event where people from around the world come to discuss and showcase food-related topics.