International Webinar 2022 - Transformation of Export Flows in the Context of Global Food Crisis - Part 17

Academics from Pakistan say that one of the solutions to food vulnerability is to improve infrastructure, especially those that support agriculture. With an increase in agricultural infrastructure, agricultural irrigation will become easier. In addition, the use of pesticides becomes more optimal benefits. So that in the end the practice of farming becomes much easier.


In general, infrastructure—for example, transportation, electricity, water, and telecommunication systems—also supports economic activity and catalyzes growth and development. The world spends more than $2.5 trillion per year on infrastructure, but $3.7 trillion per year will be needed until 2035 just to keep pace with projected GDP growth. 1 National, state, and local governments are devoting increasing amounts of capital to meeting this need , and for good reason. McKinsey Global Institute estimates that infrastructure has a socioeconomic return of about 20 percent. In other words, a $1 investment in infrastructure can increase GDP by 20 cents in the long run.


However, the benefits from infrastructure can be fully realized only when the project generates tangible public benefits. Unfortunately, many governments find it difficult to choose the right project—the one that is most profitable. Moreover, infrastructure can provide social and economic benefits only if capital and operational costs can be financed sustainably, either from project-generated revenues or from government sponsors. Too many projects become an economic burden and a financial drain when the government borrows money for an enterprise and neither the direct nor indirect economic revenues and benefits adequately cover the costs.


Climate change and the global economy as well as new regulations and evolving consumer needs are bringing new challenges to today's growers and formulators. Alongside traditional solutions for weed dewatering and growth control, new alternatives are emerging, giving customers the flexibility and confidence to adapt their formulations to their conditions and needs. A prominent example is the herbicide glufosinate, which provides fast and efficient control of many weeds and unwanted plants.


Access to clean, reliable energy enables farmers and agribusinesses to increase food production and engage in value-added processing. It also allows farmers living in off-grid areas to replace expensive diesel generators with newer, cleaner technologies, such as solar food dryers and solar water irrigation. The agricultural solar market is still in its early stages of development and barriers include the relatively high cost of the technology, limited awareness of its benefits, lack of proper policy incentives and limited access to finance for farmers and suppliers to make solar technology more affordable.


If various infrastructures supporting community productivity can be built properly, it is not impossible that various problems of food vulnerability can be properly anticipated. From upstream such as supporting production activities, continuing to maintenance infrastructure, harvesting, to distribution of food products, if all of that can be simplified then logically the problems of food vulnerability will not be a worry anymore.


The presenter who delivered the material was Abdullah Athar, Senior Lerturer College of Management Science from Pakistan. This material was presented at an international webinar organized by the University of Science & Computer Technology (STEKOM University) in collaboration with the Karachi Institute of Economics & Technology (Pakistan), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (Malaysia), STIE STEKOM, Association of Industrial and Vocational Communities (PERKIVI), Indonesian Smart Teacherpreneur Association (PTIC) and TopLoker.com. The webinar will be held on December 8, 2022 online using zoom media. All scheduled international presenters managed to attend and fill in the material properly.


The webinar activity is part of the implementation of STEKOM University's commitment to increase various international activities in order to realize the vision to become an international-class university. Various international activities carried out by STEKOM University continue from year to year. There are international activities that are sustainable and there are also some international activities that are not sustainable. All types of international activities are accommodated and regulated by the International department of STEKOM University.