IMAGES: TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Feeding a growing world population
A new international program for 2022, Tel Aviv University’s MSc in plant sciences with emphasis in food security merges the two disciplines, giving students the tools needed to feed the world’s population in the face of present and future challenges
After the 2007-8 food crisis, the importance of building food systems able to withstand shocks from natural and man-made disasters became evident – a necessity that’s been exacerbated by recent events. On the one hand, extreme weather events will continue to affect food supply chains. On the other, the Covid-19 outbreak showed how quickly a food crisis can develop, upsetting production and prices, sweeping many people’s safety net from under their feet. The challenge ahead isn’t only to provide food security in the present, but also to prepare for the years to come. Renowned for its innovative approaches to
food security, Israel is an ideal location to get involved in the search for solutions. In particular, Tel Aviv University’s new two-year MSc program in plant sciences with emphasis on food security — the only program of its kind in the country — provides students with the knowledge and skills to positively influence the sustainable availability and quality of food around the world.
This multidisciplinary English-language degree
provides cohorts with a broad understanding of the complexities underlying both plant biology and food security, with classes in fields as varied as biochemistry, bioinformatics, genetics and ecology. Part of the program sees students learn about plant molecular genetics and adaptation to environmental changes. Yet, in view of the challenges of feeding the world’s growing population, the degree also covers topics such as desert agriculture, environmentalism and more — all with an emphasis on sustainability. In fact, food security and sustainability have
run parallel to each other for years. The program aims to integrate the two agendas under the common goal of creating sustainable food systems – ones that take into account environmental considerations along the entire food chain, from production through to consumption, as well as social, health and economic concerns.
The MSc program – part of The George S. Wise
Faculty of Life Sciences – brings together leading academics, experts and policymakers from across the globe and a wide spectrum of fields. This expertise will allow graduates to either pursue an academic career, following the fulfillment of an optional thesis, or impact the future of sustainability and agriculture as policy makers and entrepreneurs. The degree is not the only example of Tel Aviv
University’s commitment to food security. It operates under the institute’s Manna Center Program for Food Safety and Security, a hub for research, teaching and collaboration. With the support of the center, researchers at the university have successfully developed various tools to address future challenges, including disease-resistant wheat varieties; cultured meat; robotic tools for precision agriculture; and more. Looking to the future, they’re sure to continue blazing a trail in the field.
Tel Aviv University’s Manna Center Program for Food Safety and Security promotes international partnerships among professionals and academics to raise awareness and address the issue of food security
2022 | Israeli Academia 25
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